Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

it's a slog
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

It took me days to read all of Nicholson Baker's "Double Fold," not because it's a slog -- far from it -- but because it got me, as he intended, hopping mad.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

It's a slog – unabridged it would be 100 hours – but both Gibbon's prose and Madoc's reading are rich, dense, magisterial and satisfying.

News & Media

The Guardian - Books

Usually, it's a slog.

News & Media

The Guardian - Opinion

It's possible, but it's a slog.

News & Media

The New York Times

(At two and a half minutes, it's a slog).

News & Media

The New Yorker

The idea was hugely popular when he won a competition for the job, and yet in these times... well, it's a slog to get the cash.

News & Media

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It was a slog; I began before iTunes, using its precursor SoundJam.

News & Media

The Guardian - Tech

We all felt it was a slog".

News & Media

The Guardian

"It was a slog," said Anderson.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

It was a slog: excitingly forensic, but in a slow-motion way.

News & Media

The New Yorker

visithedbrides.com Ian Belcher, travel writer It was a slog, but I'll never regret it.

News & Media

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific metrics like duration or distance, such as "it's a ten-mile slog" or "it's a week-long slog", to heighten the descriptive impact.

Common error

Avoid confusing "slog" with phonetically similar words like "slug" (a mollusk or a strike) or "slag" (industrial waste or a slur). Using "it's a slog" accurately conveys the intended meaning of an arduous journey or task.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's a slog" functions as a subject-predicate construction where the dummy subject "it" is linked via a contracted copula to a noun phrase. According to Ludwig, it typically serves as an evaluative statement regarding the procedural difficulty of an event or task.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Arts & Culture

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

Academic

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it's a slog" is a powerful tool for describing tasks that are characterized by slow progress and heavy effort. Ludwig AI reveals that it is a staple of journalistic writing, frequently used to describe everything from political negotiations to the reading of dense literature. While it acknowledges the difficulty of a situation, it also implies a dogged determination to continue moving forward. Writers should choose this phrase when they want to convey the monotony and weight of an undertaking rather than just its complexity. Ultimately, Ludwig confirms that "it's a slog" is a reliable, expressive and professional way to characterize the long road to a distant finish line.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is an uphill battle

Focuses on the continuous resistance encountered while trying to achieve a goal

it is a real grind

Emphasizes the repetitive and exhausting nature of the work involved

it is hard going

Describes a situation where progress is difficult and slow

it is a struggle

A more general term for a task requiring strenuous effort

it is a chore

Suggests the task is tedious, unpleasant or burdensome

it is painstaking work

Highlights the extreme care and long hours required for completion

it is a heavy lift

Uses a physical metaphor to describe a project requiring massive resources or effort

it is a taxing process

Focuses on the significant mental or physical toll the task takes

it is tedious

Shifts the focus specifically to the boredom and lack of excitement in the task

it is grueling

Implies the task is so difficult it causes extreme exhaustion

FAQs

How do I use "it's a slog" in a sentence?

You can use "it's a slog" to describe any activity that requires long-term effort with little excitement, such as "Reading through the legal documents was difficult; it's a slog that lasted for hours".

What can I use instead of "it's a slog"?

You can use alternatives like "it is an uphill battle", "it is a grind" or "it is grueling" depending on the context.

What does it mean when someone says "it's a slog"?

It means the task at hand is very demanding, tiring and feels like it is taking a long time to complete due to various obstacles or the nature of the work.

Is it better to say "it's a slog" or "it is difficult"?

While "it is difficult" is a neutral statement of fact, "it's a slog" is more evocative and specifically highlights the duration and monotony of the difficulty.

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Continue with Googlefor free

Continue with emailfor free

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

it's a slogGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

it's a slog
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples