an excessive

USAGE SUMMARY

"an excessive" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe something that is too much or too extreme. For example, "They spent an excessive amount of money on decorations for the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

An excessive disposition to confidence is rashness and an excessive disposition to fear and a deficiency in confidence is cowardice.

SEP

Staff faced an "excessive or pressured workload".

The Guardian

The new version suggests an excessive desire not to offend.

The New York Times - Arts

Is death an excessive penalty for any offense?

The New York Times

Is $150,000 per copyrighted work an excessive penalty?

The New Yorker

It was, said Angie, "an excessive amount of money.

The Guardian

But he played with an excessive degree of expressive freedom.

The New York Times - Arts

"I think that's an excessive amount," Mr. Pindell said.

The New York Times

This seems an excessive punishment for a literary gesture.

The Guardian - Books

Yet there is also an excessive degree of alarm.

The New York Times

But if they need an excessive amount, they won't develop.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with abstract nouns like "force", "amount", "burden" or "delay" to maintain a formal register in professional reports.

Common error

Avoid the mistake of using the article 'a' instead of 'an'. Even though 'excessive' begins with a vowel sound, writers in a hurry sometimes revert to 'a excessive', which is a clear grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as an adjective phrase consisting of the indefinite article 'an' and the adjective 'excessive'. It serves to modify a noun by quantifying it as being beyond what is necessary, normal or desirable. According to Ludwig, it almost always precedes nouns representing quantities, behaviors or physical properties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an excessive" is a versatile and highly reliable tool in written English. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is consistently used across the most prestigious publications to denote a quantity that is problematic or over the limit. Whether describing "an excessive amount of energy" in a scientific paper or "an excessive sentence" in a legal commentary, the phrase maintains a clear and professional tone. Writers should be careful to always use the article 'an' and to choose this phrase when a more analytical judgment is required than simple modifiers like 'very' or 'too' can provide. Its high frequency in Science and News & Media makes it a staple for anyone aiming for high-quality, authoritative prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an inordinate

More formal and suggests a lack of order or proportion

an undue

Common in legal or ethical contexts to imply something is unwarranted

an immoderate

Emphasizes a lack of self-restraint or moderation

a disproportionate

Focuses on the lack of balance relative to another factor

an unreasonable

Suggests the amount violates common sense or logic

an extreme

Indicates a level at the very edge of a scale, potentially more intense

an extravagant

Often used when discussing money, luxury or display

an astronomical

Used hyperbolically to describe incredibly large figures

a redundant

Specifically implies that the excess is unnecessary or repetitive

an unconscionable

Adds a strong moral judgment to the sense of excess

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "an excessive"?

Depending on your specific context, you might consider using "an inordinate" or "an undue" for a more sophisticated academic or legal tone.

Can "an excessive" be used for countable items?

Yes, but it is typically followed by the word 'number', such as in the phrase "an excessive number of" to maintain proper count noun agreement.

Is there a difference between "an excessive" and "too much"?

While they share the same meaning, "an excessive" is more formal and descriptive, whereas "too much" is standard for everyday conversation.

When should I use "an extravagant" instead?

Use "an extravagant" when the excess involves luxury, spending or behavior intended to impress others.