Tough or Hard?

[Ashraful Haque]

I often get confused between 'tough' and 'hard.' Just the other day I said "Leave it if you find it too hard" to someone working out at the gym. After that I was wondering if I should've said 'tough' instead.

A few more examples:
1) A tough/hard choice.
2) This questions is hard/tough.
3) Coronaviruse has made travelling tough/hard for everyone.
4) It's tough/hard to get visas nowadays.

 

[PeterCW]

In your example "hard" is fine. As a BrE speaker I would be more likely to say "difficult" or "hard".

In your other examples I would stick with "a hard choice" but would probably use "difficult" in the others.

 

[Tarheel]

I often get confused between 'tough' and 'hard.' Just the other day I said "Leave it if you find it too hard" to someone working out at the gym. After that I was wondering if I should've said 'tough' instead.

A few more examples:
1) A hard choice.
2) This question is hard.
3) The coronavirus has made travelling harder for everyone.
4) It's hard to get visas nowadays.

My opinions.

 

[Rover_KE]

'Tough' is the informal option, but apart from that, a lot of people will find no effective difference between 'tough', 'hard' and 'difficult' in most contexts.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

'Tough' is the informal option, but apart from that, a lot of people will find no effective difference between 'tough', 'hard' and 'difficult' in most contexts.

Would 'tough' be inappropriate to use in a formal setting or in a book/report? For example:
"Now with the coronavirus pandemic, it's tough to predict the stock market."

 

[tedmc]

Would 'tough' be inappropriate to use in a formal setting or in a book/report? For example:
"Now with the coronavirus pandemic, it's tough to predict the stock market."

I think difficult would the most appropriate in the context.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Seems like everyone prefers 'difficult.' How about:
"Now with the coronavirus pandemic, it's hard to predict the stock market."

Does this sound better than 'tough?'

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd reserve "tough" for "difficult to stand/bear" and keep "hard/difficult" for "laborious or challenging to do".

For example:
Helen: I feel very sorry for my friend Rachel. Both her parents have died in the last six months.
Paul: Oh, that's tough.

Fred: How are you?
Bob: I'm having a tough time at work at the moment. I've got a new boss and I think he hates me!

Mum: Have you finished your homework?
Son: Not yet. It's too difficult!

John: When should I sell my shares in Microsoft?
Sally: Good question! The stock market's really hard to predict at the moment.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I often hear 'hard' with homework/questions.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd reserve "tough" for "difficult to stand/bear" and keep "hard/difficult" for "laborious or challenging to do".

I often hear 'hard' with homework/questions.

Yes, and as you can see, I already said that that would work.

 

[Skrej]

With regards to the issue of formality - it's not just the subject being talked about, but whom you're talking to. My choice of formality (with any set of options) will depend more upon the person I'm speaking with than what I'm talking about.

That being said, I'm don't personally see much difference between 'tough' and 'hard' or even 'difficult', at least in most situations.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Which one's more common between:
"This is the difficult part" and "This is the hard part?"

 

[emsr2d2]

The latter is the more common.