really hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "really hard" is correct and can be used in written English.
It typically expresses a degree of difficulty or effort, for example: "I'm studying really hard for my exams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Really hard," she added.

The New York Times

It's really hard".

The New York Times

It's all really hard.

The New York Times

She hits really hard.

The New York Times - Sports

That's really, really hard".

The New York Times - Sports

Betrayal's really hard".

The New York Times - Sports

They work really hard.

The New Yorker

"They're trying really hard.

Independent

"We played really hard.

The New York Times - Sports

I punch really hard".

Independent

(Both laugh really hard).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "really hard" to emphasize the intensity or difficulty of an action, task, or situation. For more formal contexts, consider stronger synonyms like "extremely challenging" or "particularly arduous".

Common error

While "really hard" is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Vary your vocabulary with more sophisticated alternatives to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "really hard" functions primarily as an adverbial intensifier modifying an adjective. It amplifies the degree to which something is "hard", expressing a heightened level of difficulty, effort, or intensity, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

19%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "really hard" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a high degree of difficulty or effort. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose more formal alternatives like "extremely difficult" or "particularly challenging" in professional or academic writing. Its frequent usage in News & Media highlights its widespread acceptance, while its presence in scientific and business contexts demonstrates its adaptability across various registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely difficult

Replaces "really" with "extremely", emphasizing the high degree of difficulty.

particularly challenging

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and adds "particularly" for emphasis, indicating a significant level of difficulty.

exceptionally tough

Uses "exceptionally" instead of "really" and "tough" in place of "hard", conveying a similar sense of demanding effort.

incredibly demanding

Replaces "hard" with "demanding" and "really" with "incredibly" to highlight the strenuous nature of something.

seriously arduous

Employs "seriously" as a substitute for "really" and "arduous" to denote a task requiring significant effort.

genuinely taxing

Uses "genuinely" instead of "really" and "taxing" in place of "hard", suggesting a depleting or burdensome experience.

majorly strenuous

Employs "majorly" as a substitute for "really" and "strenuous" to emphasize the effort.

quite laborious

Replaces "really hard" with "quite laborious", emphasizing the effort and time required.

truly trying

Substitutes "really" with "truly" and "hard" with "trying", indicating a test of endurance or patience.

remarkably gruelling

Uses "remarkably" instead of "really" and "gruelling" in place of "hard", conveying a sense of exhausting difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "really hard" to describe the intensity of effort or difficulty, for example: "I'm working "really hard" to meet the deadline" or "That exam was "really hard".

What can I say instead of "really hard"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely difficult", "particularly challenging", or "exceptionally tough" depending on the context.

Is "really hard" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "really hard" might be considered too informal for academic or professional writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "arduous" or "strenuous" in such contexts.

What is the difference between "really hard" and "very hard"?

The difference between "really hard" and "very hard" is subtle. Both convey a high degree of difficulty or effort, but "really hard" can sometimes imply a greater emotional investment or personal struggle compared to "very hard".