What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hardway
Example
She learned the hard way that procrastination only leads to stress. [hard way: noun]
Example
He decided to do it the hard way and learn the skill from scratch. [hard way: adverb]
struggle
Example
She struggled to finish the marathon but eventually crossed the finish line. [struggled: verb]
Example
The company is struggling to stay afloat due to the economic downturn. [struggling: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Struggle is more commonly used than hardway in everyday language. Struggle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hardway is less common and refers to a specific path or process that requires a lot of effort.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hardway and struggle?
Both hardway and struggle are informal words and are suitable for casual conversations. However, hardway may be more appropriate in technical or specialized contexts where a specific process or path is being described.
