that sounds harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that sounds harder" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when responding to a statement or suggestion that implies a task or situation is more difficult than expected. Example: "If we have to complete the project in half the time, that sounds harder than I anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The result is a more muscular Shakespeare that sounds harder and much closer to the common man than we have become accustomed to.

Independent

In this book, he touches on "the instrument and its discontents" ("A pianist should cultivate a certain humility before a really fine technician"), memorising ("It is much harder to forget music than to remember it"), and the conventions of performance ("The ideal virtuoso piece is one that sounds harder than it really is").

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And they offered a deal that sounded hard to refuse: GEN would bear all the development costs while the institution would get a piece of the company and a fraction of the gross receipts.

The New York Times - Magazine

I avoided anything that sounded hard, and paying attention to the calories sounded hard.

Huffington Post

Stockman responded by introducing the Student Protection Act, a bill that sounded hard to disagree with.

Huffington Post

Even if that sounds hard to imagine, it strikes us as the best of some bad alternatives.

The New York Times

Personally, though admittedly anecdotally, more often than not when I admit I am a scientist at some social occasion, the most common response is "oh, that sounds hard".

The Guardian

I know that sounds hard to believe, but may I remind you that seeing is believing, and you'll see it all on the inside in Professor Roy Heckler's trained flea circus".

The New York Times

But when my seatmates ask what I do for a living, the usual response is, "Oh" or "Oh, that sounds hard" or "Oh, I couldn't possibly do that".

The New York Times

That sounds hard!

Huffington Post

That sounds hard, though.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that sounds harder" when you want to express that something seems more difficult than you initially thought, often based on new information or a revised understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "that sounds harder" sarcastically to dismiss a task, as it can come across as condescending or dismissive. Instead, offer constructive feedback or express your concerns directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that sounds harder" functions as a response or reaction to a statement or suggestion. It expresses an assessment of the difficulty level, indicating that something seems more challenging than initially perceived. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that sounds harder" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that something seems more difficult than initially anticipated. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is appropriate and correct. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Wiki contexts. While relatively uncommon overall, understanding its function and appropriate usage can enhance communication clarity. Consider alternative phrases like "that seems more challenging" for slight variations in tone or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seems more challenging

Changes the verb "sounds" to "seems" and replaces "harder" with "more challenging" to soften the perceived difficulty.

that appears to be tougher

Substitutes "sounds" with "appears to be" and "harder" with "tougher", indicating a more visual assessment of difficulty.

that presents a greater difficulty

Replaces "sounds harder" with a more formal expression, "presents a greater difficulty", suitable for professional contexts.

that looks quite demanding

Shifts from auditory to visual perception of difficulty, using "looks" instead of "sounds" and "demanding" instead of "harder".

that will be no easy task

Rephrases the statement to emphasize the absence of ease rather than the presence of difficulty.

that could be quite tricky

Replaces "harder" with "tricky", suggesting a difficulty related to complexity or strategy.

that's more complicated than it seems

Emphasizes the difference between perceived simplicity and actual complexity.

that might be more involved than expected

Focuses on the level of involvement or effort required, rather than direct difficulty.

that has an added layer of complexity

Highlights the presence of additional complexity, implying increased difficulty.

that's not as straightforward as it seems

Suggests that the task or situation is less simple or direct than initially perceived.

FAQs

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

You can use "that sounds harder" to express that something seems more difficult than initially anticipated. For example, "If we have to complete the project in half the time, "that sounds harder" than I anticipated."

What can I say instead of "that sounds harder"?

You can use alternatives like "that seems more challenging", "that appears to be tougher", or "that presents a greater difficulty" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "that sounds harder"?

It's appropriate to use "that sounds harder" when someone explains a task or situation, and based on their explanation, the task appears more difficult than you originally thought.

Is "that sounds harder" formal or informal?

"That sounds harder" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both informal and semi-formal contexts. For more formal settings, consider using phrases like "that presents a greater difficulty".