less harder

USAGE SUMMARY

'less harder' is not correct and should not be used in written English.
Instead, use the phrase 'less difficult'. For example: "I found the second test much less difficult than the first."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Or if, in our modern era, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings's household arrangements are more or less harder to explain to young children than the plots of "Lolita" or "The Cat in the Hat"?

The New Yorker

Although there has been wisdom that has come with the suffering, it doesn't make it any less harder.

Huffington Post

These methods consist in adding a noise field to the visual patterns a subject has been instructed/trained to recognize, so as to make recognition more or less harder, depending on what parts/regions of the stimulus image are more affected by the noise.

Behavioural Brain Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It makes it less hard.

The New York Times

I'm less hard on myself.

Independent

Work harder, not less hard.

The New York Times

Others were less hard-headed.

The Guardian

Some recruiters are less hard-nosed.

The New York Times

Elsewhere, things are less hard and fast.

The Guardian - Books

And EU regulations bite less hard than is commonly supposed.

The Economist

But backward running also produced far less hard pounding.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "less harder" in your writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "less difficult" or "easier" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Be mindful of double comparatives. "Less harder" combines "less" and the comparative form "harder", creating a grammatical error. Choose either "less hard" or "harder" depending on your intended meaning, or rephrase the sentence entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less harder" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to describe a lower degree of difficulty. However, it is grammatically incorrect as Ludwig AI indicates. The intended function is to modify a noun by indicating a reduction in the level of difficulty.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less harder" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, it combines "less" with the comparative form "harder", creating a double comparative. While it may occasionally appear in informal contexts, it's best to opt for alternatives such as "less difficult" or "easier" to maintain clarity and credibility. Its usage is rare, appearing mostly in news and media, and scientific contexts, but its incorrect nature makes it unsuitable for professional or academic purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less difficult

Replaces the grammatically incorrect "harder" with the correct adjective "difficult".

not as hard

Uses a different construction to convey a lower degree of difficulty.

easier

A simpler and more direct way to express reduced difficulty.

less challenging

Substitutes "harder" with "challenging" to avoid the grammatical error.

not so tough

An informal way to express reduced difficulty or hardship.

not as strenuous

Replaces "harder" with "strenuous," indicating a reduction in effort required.

relatively easy

Highlights the comparative ease of something.

somewhat easier

Indicates a slight reduction in difficulty.

a bit easier

An informal way to express a small degree of reduced difficulty.

more manageable

Focuses on the increased ability to handle or control something.

FAQs

Is "less harder" grammatically correct?

No, "less harder" is grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express a lower degree of difficulty is to use "less difficult" or simply "easier".

What are some alternatives to "less harder"?

Instead of "less harder", you can use phrases like "less challenging", "not as hard", or "more manageable" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "less harder" or "less hard"?

"Less hard" is the correct phrase. "Less harder" is considered a double comparative and is grammatically incorrect. However, it's often better to use alternatives like "easier" or "less difficult".

How can I avoid using double comparatives like "less harder"?

To avoid double comparatives, choose the correct comparative form. For example, instead of "less harder", use "easier". Double comparatives are usually formed by combining "more" or "less" with words that already have a comparative suffix (-er or -est).