harder than ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harder than ever" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is taking a greater effort than usual. For example, "I'm studying harder than ever for my final exams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trained harder than ever.

The New Yorker

This will be harder than ever.

The Economist

She is campaigning harder than ever.

The Economist

"Everyone is working harder than ever".

The New York Times

The fishing is harder than ever.

The Guardian

Is it harder than ever?

The Guardian - Books

Now that's harder than ever.

The Guardian - Tech

But right now, it's harder than ever".

The New York Times

But this is harder than ever.

The Guardian - Books

Finding good doctors is harder than ever.

The New York Times

It's getting harder than ever to say.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harder than ever" to emphasize a noticeable increase in difficulty or effort compared to a previous state. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "harder than ever" when describing situations that have always been difficult. This phrase is most effective when highlighting a change or increase in difficulty over time.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase. The phrase "harder than ever" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the intensity or degree of an action. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harder than ever" is a versatile expression used to emphasize a significant increase in difficulty or effort. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, with numerous examples demonstrating its common use across various contexts, including News & Media and Academia. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, its primary function is to highlight a marked change in the level of challenge. When using this phrase, it's best to emphasize situations where the level of difficulty has indeed increased over time. Alternatives such as "more challenging than before" or "increasingly difficult" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more challenging than before

This alternative replaces "harder" with "more challenging", focusing on the difficulty aspect.

more difficult than in the past

This alternative uses "more difficult" instead of "harder" and specifies "in the past" to clarify the comparison.

more strenuous than ever before

This alternative emphasizes the effort required by using "more strenuous".

increasingly difficult

This alternative focuses on the progressive increase in difficulty.

tougher than it used to be

This alternative uses a more informal tone with "tougher" and "used to be".

more demanding than previously

This alternative uses "more demanding" to highlight the increased requirements.

takes more effort now

This alternative simplifies the phrase to emphasize the increased effort needed.

requires greater exertion

This alternative uses more formal language with "greater exertion".

poses greater difficulties

This alternative focuses on the obstacles presented by using "poses greater difficulties".

is becoming increasingly complex

This alternative uses the word "complex" to emphasize the degree of intricacy involved.

FAQs

How can I use "harder than ever" in a sentence?

You can use "harder than ever" to describe a task, situation, or activity that has become significantly more challenging. For example, "Finding a job is "harder than ever" in this economy".

What are some alternatives to saying "harder than ever"?

Alternatives include phrases like "more challenging than before", "more difficult than in the past", or "increasingly difficult". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "harder than ever before" grammatically correct?

Yes, "harder than ever before" is grammatically correct. It's a slightly more emphatic version of "harder than ever", adding extra emphasis on the comparison to all previous times.

When should I use "more difficult" instead of "harder than ever"?

While "harder" and "difficult" are often interchangeable, "more difficult" might be preferred in more formal contexts. However, "harder than ever" is suitable for both formal and informal usage when emphasizing a significant increase in difficulty.