a sheer waste of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'a sheer waste of time' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that you consider to be a complete and utter waste of time. For example: "Attending that meeting was a sheer waste of time; nothing productive was accomplished."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And frankly speaking, I believe that the Tri‑Series that we played was a sheer waste of time and energy".

The Guardian - Sport

Listening to them, or to the radio for that matter, was a most unwelcome distraction, a sheer waste of time, which we might employ more fruitfully studying our lessons or helping with house chores.

The Guardian - Opinion

"If he can't learn simple biological facts he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part and of those who would have to teach him".

The New York Times - Health

It is a sheer waste of time to expand upon proposals for own resources and European taxes.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

After spending a lot of money it is a real sheer waste of time.

BMC Family Practice

And given how hard it is to navigate women's clothing choices to pick something that's attractive but not too sexy but still friendly but professional enough but not too expensive or I'll get bashed for vanity, and the sheer waste of time this takes up for me, if I had a choice I'd make like Cortana too.

The Guardian - Tech

This new campaign went into overdrive even before last year's "Three Stresses" campaign (theoretical study, political awareness and good conduct) had fully run its course, causing complaints about the sheer waste of time and energy.

The New York Times

So, for the sheer waste of time this bill took, Max Baucus is our Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week, his fourth award in this category.

Huffington Post

This particular printout seems a sheer waste of paper.

The New York Times

The emissions are a threat to the climate and a sheer waste of money.

Science Magazine

However, it is the sheer waste of burning a valuable resource which annoys me most.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sheer waste of time" when you want to emphasize that an activity or endeavor is completely unproductive and offers no value. For example, "Sitting in traffic for hours was a sheer waste of time."

Common error

While "a sheer waste of time" is a valid expression, avoid using it excessively in your writing. Over-reliance on this phrase can make your writing sound repetitive and less engaging. Instead, try incorporating varied synonyms such as "a complete waste of time" or "a futile effort" to keep your prose fresh and interesting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sheer waste of time" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a predicate nominative or an object complement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, suggesting its role in describing something valueless.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sheer waste of time" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something entirely unproductive. While considered correct by Ludwig AI, its frequency is relatively rare. It appears primarily in news and media and scientific sources. Alternative expressions like "a complete waste of time" or "an utter waste of time" can provide variety in writing. Remember to avoid overusing the phrase and consider the register when using it in different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complete waste of time

Replaces "sheer" with "complete", emphasizing the totality of the wasted time.

a total waste of time

Substitutes "sheer" with "total", stressing the absolute lack of value.

an utter waste of time

Uses "utter" instead of "sheer" to highlight the complete and absolute nature of the waste.

a pure waste of time

Replaces "sheer" with "pure", emphasizing the unadulterated nature of the waste.

a pointless exercise

Shifts from "waste of time" to "pointless exercise", focusing on the lack of purpose.

a fruitless endeavor

Replaces "waste of time" with "fruitless endeavor", highlighting the lack of positive outcome.

a futile effort

Uses "futile effort" instead of "waste of time", emphasizing the ineffectiveness of the attempt.

a dead loss

Replaces the entire phrase with "a dead loss", a more concise way to express complete futility.

a fool's errand

Replaces "waste of time" with "a fool's errand", suggesting the task was misguided from the start.

spinning your wheels

Uses the idiomatic expression "spinning your wheels", indicating wasted effort with no progress.

FAQs

How can I use "a sheer waste of time" in a sentence?

You can use "a sheer waste of time" to describe activities or endeavors that are completely unproductive and offer no value. For example, "Trying to argue with him was a sheer waste of time."

What are some alternatives to saying "a sheer waste of time"?

Alternatives to "a sheer waste of time" include "a complete waste of time", "a total waste of time", or "a futile effort" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a sheer waste of time"?

Yes, the phrase "a sheer waste of time" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in standard English.

What's the difference between "a sheer waste of time" and "a waste of time"?

"A sheer waste of time" emphasizes the complete and utter futility of something, adding more force than simply calling something "a waste of time".