really hard to find

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "really hard to find" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is difficult to locate or obtain. Example: "The rare book I’ve been searching for is really hard to find in bookstores."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She has been finding it really hard to find decent literature which doesn't cover this.

The Guardian

I was finding it really hard to find out what was cool.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They're also really hard to find.

Harvard Business Review

"It's really hard to find these places.

The New York Times

It's really hard to find really good bread over here.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's really hard to find people nowadays," she said.

The New York Times

And development sites are really hard to find as well".

The New York Times

"It's really hard to find money today," he said.

The New York Times

I just remember it being really hard to find parking.

The Guardian

It's really hard to find really well-written women.

The Guardian - Film

"It's really hard to find anything disappointing, to be candid".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "really hard to find", consider the tone of your writing. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal writing might benefit from alternatives like "exceptionally difficult to locate".

Common error

While "really hard to find" is acceptable, avoid overusing "really" as it can weaken your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms or more descriptive adjectives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "really hard to find" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied noun (the thing being searched for). It describes the degree of difficulty in locating something, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "really hard to find" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the difficulty of locating something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's frequently used in news and media but also appears in academic and business contexts. While "really hard to find" is generally acceptable, remember that overuse of "really" can weaken your writing. For formal writing, consider stronger alternatives like "exceptionally difficult to locate". To avoid common writing errors, remember to vary language and choose descriptive adjectives that are appropriate for your writing's register. Ultimately, the phrase's high frequency suggests it’s a readily understood and widely used expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely challenging to locate

Replaces "really hard" with "genuinely challenging", emphasizing the difficulty while maintaining a formal tone.

exceptionally difficult to discover

Substitutes "really hard" with "exceptionally difficult" and "find" with "discover", indicating a high degree of difficulty in finding something.

presents significant challenges in discovery

Frames the act of finding as a challenge, highlighting the difficulties involved.

particularly tough to come across

Replaces "really hard" with "particularly tough" and "find" with "come across", conveying the struggle in finding something in a more casual way.

it's a struggle to locate

Changes the structure to emphasize the effort involved in locating something.

demands considerable effort to uncover

Emphasizes the effort needed to find something, suggesting a more deliberate and active search.

not easy to unearth

Uses "not easy" to soften the tone and replaces "find" with "unearth", which implies digging or searching deeply.

proves quite elusive

Employs "proves quite elusive", indicating that the object of the search is difficult to capture or find.

rare and seldom seen

Shifts focus from the act of finding to the rarity of the object itself.

a needle in a haystack

Uses an idiom to describe the difficulty of finding something, emphasizing its rarity and the effort required.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "really hard to find" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "exceptionally difficult to discover", "genuinely challenging to locate", or "presents significant challenges in discovery".

Is it okay to use "really hard to find" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "really hard to find" might be considered too informal for some academic contexts. It's often better to opt for more precise and formal alternatives.

What does it mean when something is described as "really hard to find"?

It means that the thing in question is difficult to locate or obtain, requiring significant effort or persistence to discover.

What are some creative alternatives to "really hard to find" that aren't necessarily formal?

You could use phrases like "particularly tough to come across", "not easy to unearth", or even the idiom "a needle in a haystack" depending on the context.