rather harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather harder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a degree of difficulty that is somewhat greater than what is typically expected. Example: "This math problem is rather harder than the ones we practiced in class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Books

TV & Radio

Sport

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

But it is rather harder to market.

The Economist

Hock was rather harder to ignore on Saturday.

The Guardian - Sport

They were particularly visible during the Paralmpics (funny that) but are rather harder to find now.

Independent

I acknowledge this is easy to say and rather harder to do under present circumstances.

The Guardian - Sport

From now on, God may be having a rather harder time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The defeats of the past five years are rather harder for Blair to articulate.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It is rather hard to imagine.

The Economist

This makes them rather hard to detect.

The Economist

All rather hard-nosed and rational.

The Guardian

The latter is rather hard to forget.

The New York Times

In practice that is rather hard to do.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather harder", ensure the context provides a clear point of comparison. The phrase works best when it's contrasting the difficulty of one task against another.

Common error

Avoid using "rather harder" when the task is exceptionally difficult. It's best suited for situations where the increase in difficulty is moderate, not extreme. If the task is extremely challenging, consider stronger alternatives like "significantly more difficult" or "substantially more complex."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather harder" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "harder". It indicates a comparative degree of difficulty. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase as grammatically sound and usable, fitting into numerous sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Books

7%

Tech

5%

Sport

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather harder" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that indicates a moderate increase in difficulty. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is found in diverse contexts, most commonly in News & Media. It serves to express a subjective assessment of a task or situation being somewhat more challenging than anticipated. When using "rather harder", consider the context and ensure that the increased difficulty is moderate; otherwise, stronger alternatives may be more appropriate. The phrase offers a subtle way to express the notion of heightened difficulty, making it a valuable tool in nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat more challenging

Emphasizes the degree of difficulty using "challenging" instead of "harder."

a bit more difficult

Uses "difficult" as a synonym for "harder", indicating a slight increase in complexity.

slightly more complicated

Replaces "harder" with "complicated", highlighting an increase in intricacy.

moderately more demanding

Substitutes "harder" with "demanding", suggesting that it requires more effort or resources.

noticeably more strenuous

Emphasizes the effort required, using "strenuous" instead of "harder."

appreciably more taxing

Uses "taxing" as a substitute for "harder", indicating that it is more burdensome or stressful.

considerably tougher

Replaces "rather" with "considerably" and "harder" with "tougher", intensifying the degree of difficulty.

substantially more intricate

Highlights complexity with a stronger emphasis using "substantially" and "intricate".

markedly more problematic

Shifts the focus to the potential issues or troubles, using "problematic" instead of "harder".

significantly more arduous

Emphasizes the laborious nature of the task, replacing "harder" with "arduous".

FAQs

How can I use "rather harder" in a sentence?

You can use "rather harder" to compare the difficulty of two tasks, implying that one is somewhat more challenging than the other. For example, "Solving this equation is "rather harder" than I initially thought."

What are some alternatives to saying "rather harder"?

Alternatives include "somewhat more challenging", "a bit more difficult", or "slightly more complicated". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "rather harder"?

While grammatically correct, using "rather harder" might not be appropriate if the difference in difficulty is substantial. In such cases, a stronger phrase like "significantly more difficult" would be more accurate.

What is the difference between "rather harder" and "even harder"?

"Rather harder" suggests a moderate increase in difficulty compared to something else. "Even harder", on the other hand, implies an increase in difficulty beyond what was already considered hard. "This task is "rather harder" than the last one," versus "I didn't think it could get any harder, but this is "even harder"."