so damn hard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'so damn hard' is a perfectly acceptable and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to emphasize how difficult something is. For example, "Studying for this exam is so damn hard!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Or is it because he rocks so damn hard?

The Guardian

"They work so damn hard, and you don't often come across everyone who has that attitude".

The New York Times

Why then, is it so damn hard to find a decent bite to eat around here?

Independent

"The bad news is they had to fight so damn hard to do this.

The New York Times

I laughed so damn hard I thought my pancreas was going to rupture.

The Guardian - Music

"Why Chinese Is So Damn Hard," by David Moser is an intelligent essay that gets passed around among students.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

"You know, my parents worked so damned hard," Greg says, "and they were constantly being moved from one shift to another, so their sleep was always messed up.

The New York Times - Magazine

He didn't really know if they were getting anywhere or not, it was just so damned hard to tell, especially when you were dealing with someone who was obviously unaccustomed to performing in public.

Independent

We neither need an anthropomorphic, external, creator God, nor to close ourselves off from the spectacular majesty of existence that presents itself when we stop thinking so damned hard about it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Commercial extraction means that the honey the bees have worked so damned hard to produce for their winter food store from the nectar they collect from flowering trees and plants is being replaced with a sugar water solution.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's a weird fringe case, but it's exactly these fringe cases that makes building self-driving cars so damned hard.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so damn hard" to emphasize the intensity or difficulty of a situation or task, especially when you want to convey a sense of frustration or exasperation.

Common error

Avoid using "so damn hard" excessively in formal writing. While it can be effective for emphasis, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or unprofessional. Choose synonyms or rephrase your sentences to vary your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so damn hard" functions as an intensifier, modifying an adjective or adverb to amplify its meaning. It expresses a strong degree of difficulty or intensity, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples where it describes tasks, emotions, and situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "so damn hard" functions as an intensifier to express a significant level of difficulty or frustration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse sources, predominantly in News & Media. Although versatile, it is best suited for informal contexts. When more formal writing is required, it's better to use synonyms like "extremely difficult" or "incredibly challenging".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely difficult

Emphasizes the high level of difficulty.

incredibly challenging

Highlights the challenging aspect with a strong intensifier.

really tough

Uses a more casual term to describe the difficulty.

exceptionally arduous

Replaces common words with more formal vocabulary.

remarkably demanding

Stresses the demanding nature of something.

seriously taxing

Focuses on the depleting effect of the difficulty.

utterly grueling

Implies physical and mental exhaustion from the difficulty.

painstakingly intricate

Draws attention to the complexity and meticulousness required.

fiercely competitive

Highlights competition as the source of the difficulty.

devilishly complicated

Emphasizes the complexity using an informal, evocative term.

FAQs

How can I use "so damn hard" in a sentence?

You can use "so damn hard" to emphasize difficulty, for example, "Learning a new language is "so damn hard"." or "It's "so damn hard" to admit when you're wrong."

What are some alternatives to "so damn hard"?

Alternatives include "extremely difficult", "incredibly challenging", or "really tough" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "so damn hard" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "so damn hard" is generally considered informal. It's best reserved for casual conversation or informal writing contexts. More formal options, such as "exceptionally arduous" or "remarkably demanding", are more suitable for professional or academic settings.

What does "so damn hard" emphasize?

"So damn hard" emphasizes the intensity or difficulty of something, often conveying a sense of frustration or exasperation. The word "damn" intensifies the word "hard", making it stronger than simply saying something is "hard".