a tremendous waste of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tremendous waste of time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that an activity or task is considered to be unproductive or not worth the time spent on it. Example: "After attending the meeting, I realized it was a tremendous waste of time, as we didn't reach any conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

He decided that more disclosure would eliminate "a tremendous waste of time for the auditors and the taxpayer".

The New York Times

Furthermore, dismissing so many people is a tremendous waste of time and money for both the potential juror and the courts.

The New York Times

"It's been a tremendous waste of time and energy arguing about it," said Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg of Duke University Medical Center.

The New York Times

And then there's the obvious: it's all a tremendous waste of time — maintaining a profile, scrolling through your news feed, watching the dumb video that you tell yourself you didn't intend to click on, and then saying the same for the video after that.

The New Yorker

It's been a tremendous waste of time and money".

Science Magazine

"It would be a tremendous waste of time and resources," said Steven Levin, a former federal prosecutor and registered Republican.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"They are a tremendous waste of my time".

The New York Times

This is a tremendous waste of resources".

The New York Times

Ineffective advertising or public relations can be not only a tremendous waste of money but a tremendous waste of opportunity.

The New York Times

"I think this is a tremendous waste of taxpayers' money," Dreyfus said ahead of the appeal.

The Guardian

But that seems like a tremendous waste of Asbæk's talents.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tremendous waste of time" to express strong disapproval of an activity that consumes time without producing worthwhile results. Ensure the context clearly highlights the futility of the time investment.

Common error

While "a tremendous waste of time" is acceptable in many contexts, it can sound too informal or subjective for highly formal or academic writing. Consider using more neutral and objective phrasing such as "inefficient use of resources" or "suboptimal allocation of time" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tremendous waste of time" functions as a noun phrase that describes an activity or event. It is often used as a predicate nominative or as an object of a preposition. As Ludwig AI underlines, this phrase serves to express the speaker's negative evaluation of the time investment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

12%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

19%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tremendous waste of time" is a phrase used to express strong disapproval of an activity considered unproductive. Ludwig AI considers this phrase grammatically correct and commonly used. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferable in highly academic or professional settings. As Ludwig examples show, many related phrases, such as ""a complete waste of time"" or ""a considerable waste of time"", can be used to convey a similar meaning with varying degrees of emphasis. Remember to tailor your language to suit the specific context and audience. Be mindful in formal writing and consider using more objective phrases, such as "inefficient use of resources".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable waste of time

Replaces "tremendous" with "considerable", indicating a significant but perhaps less extreme waste.

a huge waste of time

Substitutes "tremendous" with "huge", implying a large amount of wasted time.

a sheer waste of time

Uses "sheer" instead of "tremendous" to emphasize the complete and utter nature of the waste.

an utter waste of time

Replaces "tremendous" with "utter", stressing the total futility of the time spent.

a complete waste of time

Uses "complete" to highlight that nothing valuable was gained from the time spent.

a total waste of time

Replaces "tremendous" with "total" to emphasize the all-encompassing nature of the waste.

a precious waste of time

Adds "precious" to ironically highlight the value of time that is being wasted.

a terrible waste of time

Substitutes "tremendous" with "terrible", emphasizing the negative impact of the wasted time.

a bloody waste of time

Replaces "tremendous" with the more emphatic "bloody", adding a tone of frustration.

a grand waste of time

Uses "grand" instead of "tremendous" for a slightly more dramatic or ironic effect.

FAQs

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

You can use "a tremendous waste of time" to describe an activity or situation that you believe is unproductive and not worth the time spent on it. For example: "Attending that conference was "a tremendous waste of time"; I learned nothing new."

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

Alternatives include "a complete waste of time", "a considerable waste of time", or "a huge waste of time". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it more correct to say "a tremendous waste of time" or "an enormous waste of time"?

Both "a tremendous waste of time" and "an enormous waste of time" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice between them is largely a matter of personal preference. The phrase "a tremendous waste of time" appears more frequently.

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

Adding "tremendous" intensifies the meaning of the phrase. While "a waste of time" simply indicates that something is unproductive, "a tremendous waste of time" emphasizes that it's a particularly significant or egregious instance of wasted time.