tough to scale

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough to scale" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges related to increasing the size or capacity of a system, process, or business. Example: "While the initial prototype was successful, the technology proved to be tough to scale for mass production."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"The difficult macro environment in the U.S. made it tough to scale the social-lending business as anticipated".

The New York Times

In other words, it's tough to scale purpose.

Forbes

Q: Personal productivity apps are tough to scale.

TechCrunch

Reason #1: Content businesses are tough to scale quickly.

TechCrunch

Due to device fragmentation, it's tough to scale to work on every mobile handset and laptop.

TechCrunch

By definition, the fast-fashion model is logistically tough to scale online.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But that will require plenty of users, as well as a tough-to-scale local ads sales team.

TechCrunch

But during Y Combinator, he discovered how tough it'd be to scale a product that requires a complete rethinking of a merchant's operations flow.

TechCrunch

WASHINGTON — For several years, a handful of lawmakers in Congress have tried to scale back tough sentencing laws that have bloated federal prisons and the cost of running them.

The New York Times

Legal in NYC but not on @instagram pic.twitter.com/YX9BymV6R6 Mr Systrom said Instagram remains "committed to artistic freedom" despite the censorship, according to the Business Insider, adding that "in order to scale effectively" some "tough calls" have to be made.

Independent

TripAdvisor has become the ubiquitous destination for hotel reviews, and it may be tough to match the scale of the travel giant.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tough to scale", consider the specific aspect of scaling that is challenging, such as resources, logistics, or technology. This provides clarity and context to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "tough to scale" as a generic statement without identifying the specific hurdles. Instead of saying "the project is tough to scale", specify "the project is tough to scale due to limited funding and infrastructure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough to scale" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied noun, often referring to a business, system, or process. It describes the characteristic of being difficult to expand or increase in size, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tough to scale" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the difficulties encountered when attempting to expand something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When employing this phrase, specifying the reasons why something is difficult to scale is essential for clarity. Alternative phrases like "difficult to expand", "hard to grow", and "challenging to enlarge" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to expand

Emphasizes the difficulty in increasing the size or scope.

hard to grow

Focuses on the challenges of achieving growth or development.

challenging to enlarge

Highlights the problematic nature of making something bigger.

not easily scalable

Indicates that the object or system does not naturally lend itself to scaling.

faces scalability issues

Specifies that there are identifiable problems when attempting to scale.

expansion is problematic

States directly that increasing its size presents difficulties.

scaling presents difficulties

Focuses specifically on scaling as the source of the problem.

growth is limited

Suggests inherent restrictions on the potential for growth.

expansion is limited

Suggests inherent restrictions on the potential for expansion.

scaling is complex

Highlights the intricate and complicated nature of the scaling process.

FAQs

What does "tough to scale" mean?

The phrase "tough to scale" means that something is difficult to expand or grow efficiently. It's often used in business or technology contexts to describe challenges in increasing the size or capacity of a system, process, or organization.

How can I use "tough to scale" in a sentence?

You can use "tough to scale" to describe anything that faces difficulties when expanded. For example: "While the pilot project was successful, the new system proved to be "tough to scale" to a national level".

What can I say instead of "tough to scale"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to expand", "hard to grow", or "challenging to enlarge" depending on the context.

Is "tough to scale" formal or informal?

The phrase "tough to scale" is generally considered neutral and acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, alternatives such as "difficult to expand" might be preferred.