slightly too hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly too hard" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is a bit more difficult than desired or expected. Example: "The exam was slightly too hard for most of the students, leading to lower overall scores."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The satisfaction of mastering a difficult étude is short-lived; then it's on to a new, slightly too hard assignment.

The New York Times

The boys squealed and he shook them more, going slightly too hard at it, the way that he usually did, until their faces were still pleased but their eyes were very mildly afraid.

The New Yorker

It wasn't the kind of talk that Ares had seen in after-school movies on TV, the kind where the coach turns a messed-up kid's life around with one meaningful sentence and a slightly too hard chuck on the shoulder.

The New Yorker

Like, "touch it slightly too hard, but ever so slightly mind you, yes, that slightly," and it'd smash into smithereens delicate.

Vice

Oh yeah, and the likelihood of viral transmission is way lower for the penis than the ass, unless you've got any sort of small open cuts or breaks in the skin like from say, accidentally having your uncut foreskin tugged back and forth slightly too hard.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The two danced with just the right understated quality for the sweetly melodic music by Delibes but became slightly too hard-edged in the ballet's knock-'em-dead bravura windup.

The New York Times - Arts

In a final chapter Coontz stumbles slightly, trying too hard to tease out a contemporary equivalent to the feminine mystique.

The New York Times - Books

There are people like me, who really, really have thought slightly too long and hard about this.

Vice

You want to make it slightly hard, but not too hard for the age level.

WikiHow

There are times when Baker's relentlessly even and likable tone, his for the most part refreshing unwillingness to try too hard, lend a slightly phoned-in feeling.

The New York Times - Books

If this is perhaps a claim slightly too far for NextGen it is hard to avoid the obvious link: Inter under Stramaccioni won the NextGen on 25 March last year.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a task or activity, use "slightly too hard" to communicate that it requires a bit more effort or skill than initially expected, without being completely unachievable. This conveys a sense of challenge and potential for growth.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly too hard" when the situation is overwhelmingly difficult. This phrase is best suited for describing challenges that are manageable with extra effort, not insurmountable obstacles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly too hard" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically intensifying the adjective "hard." It describes the degree to which something exceeds the desired level of difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for describing tasks or situations that are challenging but not insurmountable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly too hard" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon expression used to describe something that is more difficult than desired, but not entirely unmanageable. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the difficulty is appropriately portrayed—challenging, but not overwhelmingly so. Alternative expressions, such as "a bit too challenging" or "somewhat overly difficult", can provide similar meaning with slight variations in tone. Understanding these nuances helps in effective communication and precise expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bit too challenging

Replaces "slightly" with "a bit" and "hard" with "challenging", maintaining the sense of moderate difficulty.

somewhat overly difficult

Substitutes "slightly" with "somewhat" and "too hard" with "overly difficult", conveying a similar level of excessive difficulty.

a touch too difficult

Uses "a touch" to represent a small amount and "difficult" as a synonym for hard, keeping the meaning very close.

moderately excessive in difficulty

Rephrases the idea with a more formal tone, using "moderately excessive" for "slightly too" and specifying "in difficulty".

marginally beyond comfort

Shifts the focus from difficulty to comfort, suggesting something is just outside one's comfort zone.

just a tad too strenuous

Uses "just a tad" to indicate a small degree and "strenuous" as a synonym for hard, implying demanding effort.

barely too demanding

Replaces "slightly" with "barely" and "hard" with "demanding", indicating minimal excessiveness.

scarcely manageable

Focuses on manageability, indicating something is barely within the realm of being handled effectively.

on the challenging side

A more indirect way to express difficulty, suggesting it leans toward being challenging without being definitively too hard.

pushing the limits

Indicates something is approaching or reaching its maximum capacity or tolerance, implying it might be too hard to sustain.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly too hard" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly too hard" to describe something that is a bit more difficult than desired or expected. For example, "The exam was "slightly too hard" for most students, leading to lower overall scores."

What's a more formal alternative to "slightly too hard"?

For a more formal alternative, consider using phrases such as "somewhat overly difficult" or "moderately excessive in difficulty".

Is it correct to say something is "slightly too easy"? How does it compare to "slightly too hard"?

Yes, it's correct. "Slightly too easy" means something is a bit less challenging than desired, while "slightly too hard" means it's a bit more challenging. They are opposite in meaning and can be used to describe the level of difficulty of a task.

Can "slightly too hard" be used to describe emotional situations?

While primarily used for tangible challenges, you can use "slightly too hard" metaphorically. For example, "Coping with the loss was "slightly too hard", so she sought therapy" implies the emotional burden was a bit beyond her capacity to handle alone.