that much harder

USAGE SUMMARY

"that much harder" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the degree something has been made more difficult. For example, "He underestimated how much work it would take, making the task that much harder."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Complexity makes enterprise alignment that much harder.

Harvard Business Review

That would make cultural exchange that much harder".

The New York Times - Arts

That made the Kremlin's manipulation job that much harder.

The Economist

Money makes the journey outside Iraq that much harder.

The New York Times

That will make absorbing the WaMu purchase that much harder.

The New York Times

I appreciate it, and honestly it makes things that much harder for me.

The New York Times

Every percentage point paid to players beyond 50 makes the task that much harder.

The New York Times - Sports

These difficulties make it that much harder for students to succeed in demanding STEM fields.

Johns Hopkins University

Such restrictions will make Berndino Libonati's new job that much harder.

Forbes

The job-hopping makes it that much harder for the investing public to make intelligent choices.

Forbes

But when the second goal went in it makes it that much harder.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using "that much harder"; while common, more formal contexts may benefit from alternatives like "significantly more challenging".

Common error

While "that much harder" is widely understood, avoid overusing it in formal documents. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms to enhance the writing style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that much harder" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to intensify the degree of difficulty. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It indicates a significant increase in the level of effort, challenge, or complexity required.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that much harder" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a significant increase in difficulty. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is versatile enough for various contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain settings. Its prevalence in news media reflects its widespread use in describing challenges and obstacles, while its presence in business and academic contexts indicates its applicability to professional discussions of increased effort or complexity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly more challenging

Emphasizes the degree of difficulty is considerably greater.

considerably more difficult

Highlights the substantial increase in the level of difficulty.

substantially more arduous

Indicates a notable increase in the effort required.

markedly more strenuous

Focuses on the pronounced increase in physical or mental exertion.

noticeably tougher

Suggests the increased difficulty is easily perceived.

appreciably more demanding

Highlights the greater requirements or expectations.

a good deal harder

Uses a more informal tone to express a significant increase in difficulty.

a lot more difficult

Offers a simpler and more direct way to convey increased difficulty.

measurably more complicated

Implies that the increased difficulty can be objectively assessed.

distinctly more complex

Focuses on the clear increase in complexity.

FAQs

How can I use "that much harder" in a sentence?

You can use "that much harder" to emphasize the degree to which something has become more difficult. For example, "The unexpected setback made the task "that much harder"".

What are some alternatives to "that much harder"?

Alternatives include "significantly more challenging", "considerably more difficult", or "substantially more arduous" depending on the specific context.

Is "that much harder" too informal for academic writing?

While generally acceptable, "that much harder" leans towards a neutral register. In academic writing, consider more formal alternatives to maintain a sophisticated tone.

What makes something "that much harder"?

The phrase is used to indicate that a specific circumstance or event has significantly increased the difficulty of something. For example, "Lack of funding made the project "that much harder" to complete".