more tough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more tough" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct comparative form of "tough" is "tougher." Example: "This challenge is tougher than the last one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Today was a more tough day.

The New York Times - Sports

But more tough choices are expected.

The New York Times - Science

Instead Tory ministers offered more tough love.

The Guardian

They're not really embryos, more tough and muscular babies.

Independent

That means more tough times for financial institutions.

The New York Times

"You've got to make more tough plays on your own".

The New York Times - Sports

But playing against it was even more tough.

The New York Times

The England team in 2006-07 had more tough players.

The Guardian - Sport

The data suggests that Mr. Schneider's industry and the state have more tough times ahead.

The New York Times

I am opposed to saying times are tough, let's make it more tough for my kids".

The New York Times

Any prolonged unrest will, therefore, force Egypt to make more tough choices.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "more difficult" or "more challenging" to avoid grammatical errors while maintaining the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "more" with adjectives that have established comparative forms (e.g. "tougher"). Using "more tough" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more tough" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to express a greater degree of difficulty or resilience. However, Ludwig AI highlights that this construction is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

10%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "more tough" is used quite frequently, it's grammatically incorrect; the correct comparative form is "tougher". Ludwig AI flags this error, advising the use of "tougher" or alternatives like "more difficult" or "more challenging". Despite its incorrectness, its presence across various news and media outlets shows it's a commonly understood phrase. Therefore, while understandable, it's better to use grammatically correct alternatives in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tougher

Uses the correct comparative form of the adjective "tough".

more difficult

Employs a different adjective to express a higher degree of challenge.

more challenging

Replaces "tough" with a synonym that has a clearer comparative form.

increasingly tough

Adds an adverb to emphasize the growing intensity of the toughness.

more demanding

Substitutes "tough" with another adjective indicating high requirements or effort.

harder

Uses the comparative form of "hard", a close synonym for "tough".

more resilient

Shifts the focus to the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

more rigorous

Implies a greater degree of strictness or thoroughness.

more formidable

Suggests a higher level of impressiveness and power that inspires respect or fear.

more intense

Emphasizes a greater degree of strength or force.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "more tough"?

The correct comparative form of "tough" is "tougher". You can also use alternatives like "more difficult" or "more challenging".

Is "more tough" grammatically correct?

No, "more tough" is not grammatically correct. The standard comparative form of "tough" is "tougher".

Can I use "more tough" in informal writing?

While "more tough" appears in some sources, it's generally advisable to use "tougher", "more difficult", or "more challenging" even in informal contexts to maintain grammatical correctness.

What are some alternatives to "more tough"?

Alternatives include "tougher", "more difficult", "more challenging", "harder", or "more demanding", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.