least harder than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "least harder than" is not correct in English.
It seems to be an attempt to compare difficulty levels, but it is grammatically incorrect and unclear. Example: "This task is least harder than the previous one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Corporate positions will pay the most, though they're hard to get at least harder than some of the other surprises on this list.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Brooklyn band !!!, generally pronounced chk-chk-chk, thinks pop on its album "Strange Weather, Isn't It?" (Warp) — or at least tries harder than ever not to sound like a rhythm section in search of songs.

The New York Times - Arts

But if it was just a question of putting across complex science to a lay readership whose attention must be grabbed from the numerous other shiny news stories on offer that would be, if not easy, at least no harder than your average science story.

The Guardian

Developing hardware is at least 10X harder than software and biotech is 10X harder than hardware.

TechCrunch

They were among the least hard-hit.

Forbes

But it is at least less hard than it used to be to raise a round in UKI to get your fintech startup flying.

TechCrunch

Possibly but in the United States at least, it is harder than in 1999 for a firm to make its stockmarket debut.

The Economist

But on this, my first foray into genuine grounding, I'm feeling like grounding a child — grounding a child and sticking with it, at least — is much harder than letting the transgression slide.

The New York Times

At least, it's harder than it needs to be.

TechCrunch

It's a catchy, up-tempo pop-rock confection that at least rocks a little harder than the soporific ballads on which his former group made their name.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Sony, while it may not be the top company in the MP3 player or music phone race, is at least trying a little bit harder than most to win women over.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "least harder than" in formal writing. It is grammatically incorrect and can confuse your reader. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "easier than" or "not as difficult as".

Common error

A common mistake is forming comparative adjectives incorrectly. Remember that "harder" is already a comparative form. Adding "least" creates a double comparative, which is grammatically incorrect. Stick to standard comparative structures for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least harder than" functions as an attempt to express a comparative degree of difficulty. However, it is grammatically flawed. As Ludwig AI shows, while instances of similar word combinations exist, the phrase itself is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "least harder than" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase violates standard English grammar rules, attempting an improper double comparison. While the individual words are common, their combination in this order is not. For expressing a lower degree of difficulty, it is much better to choose alternatives like "easier than" or "not as hard as" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Always prioritize standard and accepted grammatical forms to communicate effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as hard as

Expresses a lower level of difficulty compared to something else, offering a grammatically sound alternative.

less challenging than

Replaces "harder" with a synonym and uses "less" for proper comparison.

easier than

Indicates a task is less difficult, directly contrasting with the original phrase's intended meaning.

not quite as difficult as

Adds nuance to the comparison, emphasizing a slight difference in difficulty.

simpler than

Uses a different adjective to convey reduced complexity or effort.

more manageable than

Focuses on the ease of handling or dealing with something.

requires less effort than

Highlights the reduced amount of work needed.

not nearly as tough as

Emphasizes a significant difference in difficulty, using a more informal tone.

a breeze compared to

Uses an idiom to suggest extreme ease in comparison.

palatable with respect to

Emphasizes the easier acceptance of something compared to another thing.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "least harder than"?

The phrase "least harder than" is grammatically incorrect. "Harder" is already a comparative adjective, and adding "least" creates a double comparative. It's best to use phrases like "easier than" or "not as difficult as".

What can I say instead of "least harder than"?

You can use alternatives like "easier than", "not as hard as", or "less challenging than" to express a lower degree of difficulty.

Which is correct: "least harder than" or "not as hard as"?

"Not as hard as" is the correct and grammatically sound option. "Least harder than" is considered incorrect. Use "not as hard as" for clarity and proper grammar.

How do I use "easier than" in a sentence?

You can use "easier than" in a sentence like this: "This task is "easier than" I expected." or "Learning Spanish is "easier than" learning German for me."