is harder than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is harder than expected" is used in written English and is correct.
You can use this phrase when you are comparing something to an expectation. For example, "Getting an A on the exam was harder than expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But it turns out that launching a bank is harder than expected.

TechCrunch

Though, when the going gets rough and leading a team is harder than expected, many fall into faulty leadership styles that create tension between the good they strive to do externally and the havoc their leadership can create internally.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Or a gadget might be harder than expected to manufacture and ship.

The New York Times

But meeting our deductible turned out to be harder than expected.

The New York Times

Or a gadget like the Elevation Dock might be harder than expected to manufacture and ship.

The New York Times - Tech

The Justice Department, which has been harder than expected on M.&A., will assess whether consumers face higher prices.

The New York Times

Even when missions can be fielded with some urgency, said Mr. Malone, the job can be harder than expected.

The New York Times

But he also acknowledged that trying to build a plane with mostly composite materials had been harder than expected.

The New York Times

But perhaps, he adds, creating jobs and apprenticeships was always going to be harder than expected: "An apprenticeship is three years.

The Economist

But after a few successes by female mathematicians of her generation, she realized that the path towards fair representation would be harder than expected.

Nature

9 P.M. (TNT) THE CLOSER Detective Andy Flynn Tony Denisonn) and Detective Lt. Provenza (G. W. Bailey) try to make easy money by serving court papers for a lawyer, but it turns out to be harder than expected.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is harder than expected" to politely express a challenge that was initially underestimated. This is particularly useful in professional settings to convey difficulties without sounding overly negative.

Common error

While "is harder than expected" is generally acceptable, avoid relying on it excessively in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise and analytical language to describe the challenges encountered.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is harder than expected" functions as a comparative statement, indicating that something presents a greater level of difficulty than initially anticipated. Ludwig's examples confirm its role in expressing deviations from initial estimations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is harder than expected" is a common way to express that something is more difficult than initially anticipated. As shown by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct, though relatively rare. It typically conveys a mild sense of surprise or frustration. While acceptable in many contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing. The contexts where it is mainly found are in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business. Keep in mind to be aware of this phrase overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proves more challenging than anticipated

Replaces "harder" with "more challenging" and "expected" with "anticipated", offering a slightly more formal tone.

turns out to be more difficult than initially thought

Substitutes "harder" with "more difficult" and explicitly states the initial assessment was inaccurate.

is tougher than originally perceived

Replaces "expected" with "perceived", highlighting a difference in initial understanding.

exceeds the anticipated level of difficulty

Uses a formal tone to express that the actual difficulty is greater than what was originally anticipated.

is more complicated than it seemed

Focuses on the unexpected complexity of the situation, rather than just difficulty.

presents unexpected difficulties

Simplifies the comparison by focusing on the emergence of unexpected difficulties without direct comparison to original expectations.

demands more effort than foreseen

Shifts the focus to the amount of effort required, rather than a direct statement of difficulty.

is proving to be quite a challenge

Emphasizes the challenging nature of the situation, downplaying the element of surprise.

involves unforeseen complications

Highlights the complications that have arisen, rather than the overall level of difficulty.

is not as straightforward as one might think

Emphasizes the lack of simplicity and directness, rather than the magnitude of difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "is harder than expected" to express that something presents more difficulties than initially anticipated. For example, "The exam "is harder than expected", so I need to study more."

What's a more formal way to say "is harder than expected"?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "proves more challenging than anticipated" or "exceeds the anticipated level of difficulty".

Is "is harder than expected" always negative?

While "is harder than expected" often implies a negative experience, it can also be used neutrally to simply state a difference in perceived difficulty versus reality. The connotation depends on the context.

What's the difference between "is harder than expected" and "is more complicated than it seemed"?

"Is harder than expected" focuses on the degree of difficulty, while "is more complicated than it seemed" emphasizes the unexpected complexity and intricate nature of something.