How to use "hard to ignore"

What Does "hard to ignore" Mean?

• What it expresses: Degree of difficulty; something is noticeably present or impactful.
• What part of the sentence it typically modifies: Usually modifies the verb 'to ignore' and, by extension, the entire clause expressing the difficulty of ignoring something.
• Register: Neutral

How to Use It

• Typical sentence positions: Mid-sentence is the most natural position, typically following a linking verb (e.g., is, was, are, seems, becomes). While grammatically possible to front (e.g., "Hard to ignore is the fact that..."), it sounds less natural and is rarely used. Final position is also less common.
• What it modifies and how it changes the meaning of a sentence: It modifies the action of ignoring, emphasizing that something is so prominent or significant that it's challenging to disregard. It adds a subjective layer, implying a judgment about the difficulty involved.
• Grammatical flexibility: It's primarily used in affirmative statements. While technically you could say "It isn't hard to ignore," it's usually more direct to say "It's easy to ignore." Questions are less common but grammatically sound: "Is it hard to ignore?"
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Fronting the phrase sounds stilted. Using it with a double negative construction is grammatically correct but stylistically awkward (e.g., "It's not untrue that it's hard to ignore.")

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from hard to ignore on Ludwig.guru.

"It's hard to ignore it." — The New York Times - Sports

"The similarities are hard to ignore." — Independent

"Kane is hard to ignore, though." — The Guardian - Sport

"It's becoming hard to ignore." — The New Yorker

"Still, the evidence was hard to ignore." — The New York Times

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/hard+to+ignore

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
difficult to disregard	More formal and emphasizes the act of considering something.
impossible to miss	Indicates something is very obvious and easily noticed.
striking	Emphasizes that something is remarkable or impressive, making it noticeable.
unavoidable	Suggests that something cannot be prevented or escaped, making it impossible to ignore the consequences.
demands attention	Something that is of great importance, therefore needs to be noticed.
impossible to overlook	Similar to "hard to ignore," but with a stronger emphasis on the impossibility of missing something.
can't be dismissed	Suggests that something is too important or significant to be rejected or ignored.

Common Mistakes

• Using the phrase in an overly formal context when a simpler alternative would suffice.
• Overusing the phrase, leading to repetitive writing. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms.
• Learners might incorrectly replace "hard" with "hardly", which has a different meaning (almost not). "Hardly to ignore" makes little sense and is grammatically incorrect.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
hard to ignore	Expresses the degree of difficulty in disregarding something	Neutral	Mid-sentence, following a linking verb

FAQs

Where does "hard to ignore" typically appear in a sentence?

Hard to ignore usually appears in the middle of a sentence, following a linking verb like is, was, seems, or becomes. This position allows it to clearly modify the subject and the action of ignoring, creating a natural flow within the sentence.

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How is "hard to ignore" different from a similar phrase like "difficult to disregard"?

Both phrases convey a similar meaning, but "difficult to disregard" is generally considered more formal than "hard to ignore." "Difficult to disregard" is better suited for academic or professional writing, while "hard to ignore" is appropriate for a broader range of contexts.

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What's the difference between "hard to ignore" and "hardly to ignore," and why is the latter incorrect?

"Hard to ignore" means something is difficult to overlook, while "hardly to ignore" is grammatically incorrect and nonsensical. The word "hardly" means almost not, so replacing "hard" with "hardly" completely changes the meaning. Remember to use "hard" to convey the intended meaning of difficulty.