harsh to maintain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harsh to maintain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult or challenging to keep or uphold, often referring to conditions, standards, or practices. Example: "The environmental regulations are harsh to maintain, requiring constant monitoring and adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Not surprisingly, the default (i.e., manufacturer recommended) cell lysis and histone extraction protocol for the anti-H3 AlphaLISA antibody [ 10], which have been optimized to capture histone H3 and measure levels of H3K27 tri-methylation, which is a covalent modification, were too harsh to maintain specific bromodomain histone protein protein interaction.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Iberians' morale declined, and Sertorius, driven to harsh measures to maintain order, lost popularity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The politicians of the Nationalist Party (the KMT) are particularly vulnerable to this suspicion of treason because the party is associated with China and used harsh methods to maintain its rule on the island into the 1980s.

The New York Times

Respecting the elders' decisions, no matter how unjust or harsh, is required to maintain honor.

Vice

Military justice is meant to be harsh: it's designed to maintain discipline on and off the battlefield.

The New Yorker

Ms. Stewart argues that breaking the sheik's harsh isolation was necessary to maintain political support for him on the outside and so was vital to her defense of him.

The New York Times

And yet every time I think of such a possibility I get a cold chill -- a worry about the beast, the beast of the public school schedule, the harsh marathon of running to maintain balance and focus all day every day.

Huffington Post

TaT is designed to eliminate the use of specialty enzymes, hazardous chemical reagents, and harsh reaction conditions, and to maintain as much structural integrity of N-glycans as possible.

Bioconjugate Chemistry

There has not been any suggestion from the I.M.F. or the European Union that this slip represents a lack of resolve by Prime Minister George A. Papandreou to maintain the harsh spending cuts, structural reforms and tax increases that lie at the heart of the Greek reform effort.

The New York Times

Krugman believes that in order for change to come, Obama has to maintain a harsh anti-corporation and anti-Republican platform.

Huffington Post

Oilbirds produce a variety of sounds, from clucking calls, apparently used to maintain contact, to harsh snarls and screams, when excited.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "harsh to maintain", ensure the context clearly defines what is being maintained and why it is difficult. Providing specific examples will enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "harsh to maintain" when describing something that is simply unpleasant or disagreeable. The phrase should specifically refer to the difficulty of upkeep or preservation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harsh to maintain" functions as an adjectival phrase followed by an infinitive. It describes the difficulty associated with upholding or preserving something. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harsh to maintain" describes something that is difficult to keep or uphold. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and usability. It's often used to discuss challenging conditions, standards, or practices. While grammatically sound, this phrase is not very common, appearing with a neutral formality level across scientific, encyclopedic and news contexts. Alternatives include "difficult to sustain" and "challenging to uphold", each with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to sustain

Emphasizes the effort required for something to continue existing.

challenging to uphold

Highlights the demanding nature of maintaining a standard or principle.

hard to preserve

Focuses on the effort needed to keep something in its original condition.

tough to keep up

Suggests the struggle in maintaining pace or level.

demanding to conserve

Highlights the rigorous requirements for conserving resources or energy.

onerous to continue

Focuses on the burden associated with maintaining an activity or process.

awkward to keep afloat

Focuses on the difficulty of maintaining the financial status of a company or entity.

problematic to retain

Highlights potential issues related to retaining staff or customers.

unyielding to prolong

Focuses on the difficulty of prolonging something against opposing forces.

formidable to perpetuate

Highlights the difficulty involved in maintaining or continuing something, like a myth.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "harsh to maintain" in a sentence?

The phrase "harsh to maintain" is used to describe something difficult to preserve or uphold. For instance, "The environmental regulations are "harsh to maintain", requiring constant monitoring".

What are some alternatives to "harsh to maintain"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "difficult to sustain", "challenging to uphold", or "hard to preserve" as alternatives to "harsh to maintain".

Is "harsh to maintain" grammatically correct?

Yes, "harsh to maintain" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "harsh to maintain"?

Use "harsh to maintain" when describing conditions, standards, or practices that are difficult or challenging to keep or uphold over time. For example, "The quality standards were "harsh to maintain" without additional resources".