have a hard time doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"have a hard time doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to express the difficulty someone has in doing something. For example: "My students have had a hard time completing the assignment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Because lease rates are high, the cabbies have a hard time doing that.

The New Yorker

"You would have a hard time doing a Columbia today," he added.

The New York Times

And Ernie Els will have a hard time doing it this year.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm gonna have a hard time doing this," she told Quentin, when eviction began to seem necessary.

The New Yorker

"I have to remind myself that it is March and I have a hard time doing it at times.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's easy for me to put lightweight makeup bags together for clients, but I have a hard time doing it myself," Ms. Orcutt said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Bankers have a harder time doing this since the industry is a confidence game, and financial strength comes from projecting strength – and what else is there to judge yourself on but the money you make?

Independent

A story about a young blind man's heroic hike up Mount McKinley was rejected because it is considered biased to suggest that blind people can have a harder time doing particular tasks than sighted people.

The New York Times - Books

The smaller, inefficient players will have a harder time doing this.

Forbes

If today's funding environment gets worse, companies chasing at your heels will have a harder time doing so.

TechCrunch

In 2014 his wife, Hillary Clinton - now a former first lady, senator and secretary of state - may have a harder time doing so.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have a hard time doing", ensure the verb following "doing" is in the correct -ing form. For example, "I have a hard time understanding" is correct.

Common error

Avoid using the base form of a verb after "doing". It's a common mistake to say "I have a hard time do this", instead of the correct form: "I have a hard time doing this".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a hard time doing" functions as a verbal phrase expressing difficulty or struggle in performing a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

16%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have a hard time doing" is a versatile phrase used to express difficulty in performing an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media sources, but also appears in Science and Wiki contexts. While relatively informal, its neutral register makes it appropriate for diverse writing scenarios. When using this phrase, remember to use the -ing form of the verb after 'doing'. Alternatives include "find it challenging to do" or "struggle to accomplish". Overall, "have a hard time doing" is a useful tool for expressing challenges in both spoken and written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

find it challenging to do

Focuses on the inherent challenge rather than the experience of difficulty.

struggle to accomplish

Emphasizes the effort and difficulty involved in reaching a goal.

encounter difficulty in performing

More formal and highlights the presence of obstacles.

face challenges in completing

Highlights the challenges as external factors affecting completion.

experience trouble with

Broader term indicating some form of adversity or problem.

find it difficult to execute

Highlights problems during the process of executing a specific action.

have difficulty in achieving

Focuses specifically on reaching a certain goal or result.

strive unsuccessfully to

Focuses on failing even when trying hard.

be unable to easily

More direct and negates the ease of an action.

labor under the burden of

Implies a heavy load or obstacle making the task harder.

FAQs

How can I use "have a hard time doing" in a sentence?

Use "have a hard time doing" to express difficulty in performing an action. For example, "I "have a hard time doing" the laundry because of my back problems."

What are some alternatives to "have a hard time doing"?

You can use alternatives such as "find it challenging to do", "struggle to accomplish", or "encounter difficulty in performing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "have a hard time to do" instead of "have a hard time doing"?

No, the correct structure is "have a hard time doing", where the verb after "doing" should be in the gerund (-ing) form. "Have a hard time to do" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "have a hard time doing" and "have difficulty doing"?

Both phrases express difficulty, but ""have a hard time doing"" is generally considered more informal than "have difficulty doing". They are largely interchangeable in many contexts.