significantly harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significantly harder" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task, challenge, or situation that is much more difficult than another. Example: "The new math curriculum is significantly harder than the previous one, requiring students to develop advanced problem-solving skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That is significantly harder than it sounds.

The New York Times

Tackled the other way around, Fleet Moss is significantly harder.

The Guardian - Travel

Bilbow believes it is actually significantly harder for people with ADHD to become elite athletes.

The Guardian

Finding these lighting conditions on Earth today might be significantly harder.

MIT Technology Review

"It remains significantly harder to use whole-genome sequencing for disease prediction than for disease diagnosis," said Dewey.

Stanford University

Meanwhile, leases are becoming significantly harder to obtain, with Chrysler no longer offering leases through its financing arm.

The New York Times

Has technology, including the proliferation of computers, Internet access and e-mail, made security significantly harder to enforce?

The New York Times

"Amid such violence, it became significantly harder for Iraqi leaders to make the difficult compromises necessary to foster reconciliation".

The Guardian

Also, information about people in detention was significantly harder to obtain from the immigration department after the Coalition took power.

The Guardian - Opinion

If Obama rescinded the system altogether, it would make it significantly harder for Trump to build a Muslim registry.

The Guardian

The uniform standard means that a high school diploma will become significantly harder to acquire in coming years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significantly harder", ensure you provide context as to what it is harder than. This provides clarity and strengthens the comparison.

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "Life is significantly harder now." Instead, specify who it is harder for and why. For example, "For recent graduates, finding employment is significantly harder due to the competitive job market."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly harder" functions as an intensifier modifying the adjective "harder". It serves to emphasize the degree to which something is more difficult compared to something else. As Ludwig AI states, it is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

19%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significantly harder" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a considerable increase in difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is appropriate across various contexts, especially in news, scientific, and academic domains. To enhance clarity, it's recommended to specify the point of comparison when using the phrase. While it's versatile, remember to use it precisely and avoid vagueness to maximize its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

markedly harder

Emphasizes a noticeable increase in difficulty; focuses on the evident change.

noticeably harder

Highlights that the difficulty is easily observed or perceived.

considerably harder

Indicates a substantial increase in difficulty, implying a larger difference.

substantially harder

Stresses the degree of difficulty, emphasizing its relative size or importance.

appreciably harder

Suggests that the increased difficulty is easily recognized or felt.

distinctly harder

Focuses on the clear and unambiguous difference in difficulty.

vastly harder

Implies a very large or extensive increase in difficulty.

much more challenging

Uses "challenging" as an alternative adjective, shifting the emphasis slightly.

considerably more difficult

Replaces "harder" with the more formal "difficult", impacting register.

noticeably more complex

Shifts the focus to the complexity of the task rather than pure difficulty.

FAQs

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

Use "significantly harder" to compare the difficulty of two tasks or situations. For example, "The second exam was "significantly harder" than the first.".

What can I say instead of "significantly harder"?

You can use alternatives like "markedly harder", "noticeably harder", or "considerably harder" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "significantly harder"?

Yes, "significantly harder" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express a notable increase in difficulty.

What's the difference between "significantly harder" and "slightly harder"?

"Significantly harder" indicates a large difference in difficulty, while "slightly harder" suggests a small or minor difference.