Excessive bureaucracy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Excessive bureaucracy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is an overabundance of administrative procedures or red tape that hinders efficiency or effectiveness. Example: "The project's progress was severely delayed due to excessive bureaucracy within the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Excessive bureaucracy has led two very talented group members to leave, said Navigli, who added that most support for his group of 10 comes from a starting grant from the European Research Council.

Science Magazine

Doesn't Italy suffer from excessive bureaucracy (as well as wonky governments) and Greece from corruption?

The Economist

Danish consumers have criticised the move, which has left many retailers complaining of excessive bureaucracy.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, Cameron pledged yesterday that a Conservative government would crack down on waste and excessive bureaucracy from "day one".

The Guardian

By investing heavily in new areas, Fujifilm has bucked stereotypes of inflexibility and excessive bureaucracy that have haunted Japanese companies.

The New Yorker

He lashed out at excessive bureaucracy that yields nothing but corruption, and gave warning against state meddling in private business.

The Economist

According to entrepreneurs the top three challenges everywhere are access to talent, excessive bureaucracy, and scarce early stage capital.

Harvard Business Review

Efforts at such imitations have led in the past to a "loss of freshness" and excessive bureaucracy, it said.

The New York Times

The middle class complain of high taxes, excessive bureaucracy, clampdowns on NGOs and attacks on the media.

The Guardian

It was drafted with the participation of transgender people and avoided violations of rights like forced sterilisation, medical treatment conditions, or excessive bureaucracy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Helped set up Isis Innovation and founded Oxford Molecular Likes: Exercise Dislikes: Excessive bureaucracy Married to Mary Phillips, director of research programmes at University College London.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing efficiency improvements, use "excessive bureaucracy" to highlight areas needing simplification to boost productivity.

Common error

Do not use "excessive bureaucracy" when "bureaucracy" alone is sufficient to convey the intended meaning. Overusing "excessive" can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive bureaucracy" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, describing a state of overcomplicated or inefficient administrative procedures. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

29%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive bureaucracy" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes overly complicated and inefficient administrative processes. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news media, formal business, and scientific contexts. While the term itself is neutral to formal, it generally carries a negative connotation expressing criticism or dissatisfaction. Alternatives such as "red tape" and "administrative overload" can be used depending on the specific nuances you wish to convey. When using the phrase, avoid redundancy and focus on clarity to effectively communicate the issue at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Red tape

Focuses on the physical and symbolic representation of bureaucratic obstacles.

Overregulation

Emphasizes the presence of too many regulations.

Administrative overload

Highlights the burden and inefficiency caused by excessive administrative tasks.

Bureaucratic red tape

Combines two common terms to reinforce the concept of cumbersome bureaucracy.

Cumbersome procedures

Highlights the difficulty and slowness of the required processes.

Unnecessary paperwork

Focuses on the wasteful aspect of bureaucratic processes involving documentation.

Complex regulations

Emphasizes the complicated nature of the rules and guidelines.

Endless formalities

Highlights the repetitive and seemingly pointless nature of bureaucratic requirements.

Governmental overreach

Suggests an excessive and inappropriate level of government intervention.

Oppressive regulation

Emphasizes the restrictive and burdensome nature of the regulatory environment.

FAQs

How to use "excessive bureaucracy" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive bureaucracy" to describe situations where administrative processes are overly complicated and inefficient, such as "The project was delayed due to "excessive bureaucracy"".

What can I say instead of "excessive bureaucracy"?

Alternatives to "excessive bureaucracy" include "red tape", "overregulation", or "administrative overload", depending on the specific context.

What are the effects of excessive bureaucracy?

Excessive bureaucracy can lead to delays, increased costs, reduced efficiency, and frustration among those who must navigate the complex processes.

Is "excessive bureaucracy" always negative?

While bureaucracy itself is a neutral term, "excessive bureaucracy" almost always carries a negative connotation, implying that the bureaucratic processes are unnecessarily burdensome and counterproductive.