is harder than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is harder than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the difficulty of two things, indicating that one is more difficult than the other. Example: "Studying for the final exam is harder than preparing for the midterm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Golf is harder than that.

The New York Times

is harder than it appears.

The New York Times

Curling is harder than it looks.

The New York Times - Sports

That is harder than it sounds.

The New York Times

That is harder than you might think.

The Economist

Losing, apparently, is harder than it looks.

The New York Times - Sports

But simplicity is harder than it looks.

The New York Times

Good action is harder than it looks.

The New York Times

This is harder than it sounds.

The Economist

But that is harder than it sounds.

The Economist

But this is harder than it sounds.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two tasks or concepts, ensure the comparison is clear and logical. For example, instead of saying "Science is harder", specify what aspect of science is being compared, such as "Theoretical physics is harder than introductory biology".

Common error

Avoid using "is harder than" in situations where the difficulty is subjective or depends on individual skills. For instance, saying "Writing is harder than speaking" is an oversimplification, as some people may find speaking more challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is harder than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that one thing possesses a higher degree of difficulty compared to another. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

13%

Science

11%

Less common in

Huffington Post

8%

TechCrunch

3%

Forbes

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is harder than" is a common and grammatically correct way to compare the difficulty of two things. As Ludwig AI confirms, this comparative adjective phrase is widely used in various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific publications and general writing. While alternatives like "is more difficult than" exist, "is harder than" maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When employing this phrase, it is important to ensure that the comparison is clear and logical to avoid oversimplifying complex relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is more difficult than

Replaces "harder" with the more formal "more difficult", maintaining the comparative sense.

is tougher than

Substitutes "harder" with "tougher", suggesting a more resilient or challenging nature.

is more challenging than

Uses "more challenging" instead of "harder", emphasizing the demanding aspect of the comparison.

is more strenuous than

Employs "more strenuous" to highlight the effort required, shifting the focus to physical or mental exertion.

presents greater difficulties than

Offers a more elaborate way of expressing the comparison, focusing on the difficulties involved.

is a greater struggle than

Replaces "harder" with "a greater struggle", emphasizing the effort and resistance involved.

is a bigger challenge than

Uses "bigger challenge" instead of "harder", emphasizing the demanding aspect of the comparison.

is a steeper hill than

Employs the metaphor of a "steeper hill" to indicate a greater degree of difficulty.

is no walk in the park compared to

Uses the idiom "no walk in the park" to imply that something is challenging, then compares it to another thing.

is like climbing Mount Everest compared to

Uses the hyperbole "climbing Mount Everest" to convey the extreme difficulty, then compares it to another thing.

FAQs

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

The phrase "is harder than" is used to compare the difficulty of two activities or concepts. For example, "Learning a new language is harder than memorizing a list of words".

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

You can use alternatives like "is more difficult than", "is more challenging than", or "is tougher than" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "is harder than"?

Yes, the phrase "is harder than" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard comparative structure in English, where "harder" is the comparative form of the adjective "hard".

What's the difference between "is harder than" and "is more difficult than"?

While both phrases convey the same meaning, "is harder than" is generally considered less formal. "Is more difficult than" is often used in more formal or academic contexts.