pretty hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty hard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is quite difficult or challenging. Example: "The exam was pretty hard, and many students struggled to finish it on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He throws pretty hard.

The New York Times - Sports

It was pretty hard.

Independent

"Pretty hard," she said.

The New York Times

Pretty hard to believe.

The New York Times

That's pretty hard to draw.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A: I worked pretty hard.

Harvard University

It's pretty hard to prove.

Cornell University

And pretty hard too.

The Guardian - Sport

Yeah, pretty hard".

The New York Times - Magazine

I kick pretty hard.

The Guardian - Sport

He swung pretty hard.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pretty hard", consider the context and audience. While generally acceptable, more formal settings may benefit from stronger or more precise synonyms like "quite difficult" or "considerably challenging".

Common error

Avoid relying on "pretty hard" in formal essays or reports. While grammatically sound, its informal tone can detract from the seriousness of your message. Instead, opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "significantly challenging" or "considerably demanding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty hard" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe a quality of difficulty. Ludwig's examples show it describing tasks, tests, and even emotional experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty hard" is a commonly used and grammatically correct adjective phrase that expresses a moderate level of difficulty. While Ludwig confirms its acceptability, it's important to consider the context. More formal settings may benefit from stronger, more precise alternatives like "quite difficult" or "significantly challenging". Ludwig's analysis highlights its frequent use in news and media, as well as academia and science, suggesting a neutral register suitable for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite difficult

Emphasizes the level of difficulty, replacing "hard" with a synonym.

fairly challenging

Replaces "hard" with "challenging", indicating a task that requires effort.

moderately tough

Uses "tough" to convey difficulty, with "moderately" softening the impact.

somewhat arduous

Replaces both words with more formal synonyms, indicating a strenuous effort.

reasonably demanding

Highlights the demanding nature of the task, suggesting a significant effort is needed.

not easy

A simple negation of "easy", suggesting some level of difficulty.

rather complicated

Shifts the focus to complexity, implying that difficulty arises from intricacy.

a bit tricky

Uses a more informal tone, suggesting a delicate or subtle difficulty.

kind of strenuous

Emphasizes the effort required, implying physical or mental exertion.

slightly problematic

Indicates a degree of difficulty stemming from potential issues or obstacles.

FAQs

How can I use "pretty hard" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty hard" to describe something that is quite difficult. For example, "The test was "pretty hard", but I managed to pass".

What are some alternatives to "pretty hard"?

Some alternatives to "pretty hard" include "quite difficult", "fairly challenging", or "moderately tough", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "pretty hard" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty hard" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, it's better to use stronger and more precise synonyms like "significantly challenging" or "considerably demanding".

What does "pretty hard" actually mean?

"Pretty hard" means something is moderately or considerably difficult. The word "pretty" acts as an intensifier to "hard", indicating a significant level of difficulty but not the highest possible level.