Guide 40 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “hard”
Five adjectives that place the difficulty in context.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Hard" is both an effort word and a difficulty word. Reports prefer "challenging," "demanding," "complex," "strenuous" — each with a particular kind of hard.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Challenging neutral
requires skill, not unmanageable
A challenging rollout, but doable.
- 02Demanding neutral
high effort or standards
A demanding client brief.
- 03Complex neutral
many interacting parts
A complex migration across three vendors.
- 04Strenuous formal
physically or mentally taxing
A strenuous review cycle.
- 05Arduous formal
long and exhausting
The arduous 18-month court process.