an excessive burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an excessive burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a load or responsibility that is too heavy or difficult to manage. Example: "The new regulations imposed an excessive burden on small businesses, making it hard for them to operate efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

The problem is that this freedom places an excessive burden on human beings.

The New York Times

This is a matter of principle, not medium, and the new rules are not an excessive burden.

The New York Times

The court ruled that requiring a long-distance retailer to collect sales taxes outside its home state represents an excessive burden.

The New York Times

The second argument is that not extending the tax cuts to high-income earners would impose an excessive burden on small businesses.

The New York Times

Commission officials said the standard required to cancel contracts would have required a finding that the pacts would impair the ability of a public utility to continue providing service or cause an "excessive burden" on customers.

The New York Times

That amount is twice the threshold that the House had provided in earlier legislation, a response to the outcry from small businesses that a mandate would be an excessive burden and could force them to lay off workers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

In health care, for instance, many small businesses think that America's Affordable Care Act imposes an excessive administrative burden on them.

The Economist

However, this approach results in an excessive computational burden.

Water Research

Files related to structures and references are not held in memory, as these clearly would cause an excessive memory burden.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Moreover, to avoid an excessive computational burden, two simplified visual control laws are introduced supported by rigorous proofs of stability based on Lyapunov theory.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

More generally, the Dutch agricultural sector is confronted with a policy dilemma between the importance of a profitable farming business and the importance of preventing an excessive environmental burden to the rural environment.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more formal tone, consider using "an excessive burden" over more casual phrases. This phrase adds a level of seriousness and weight to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "an excessive burden" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it may sound overly formal or dramatic. Opt for simpler alternatives like "too much trouble" or "a big hassle" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an excessive burden" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As Ludwig's examples show, it often describes something that places undue strain or difficulty on individuals or systems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an excessive burden" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes a load, responsibility, or obligation that is too difficult or demanding. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and finds frequent use in various contexts, notably Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business settings. While versatile, it's best suited for formal to neutral registers. When a less formal tone is required, phrases like "too much trouble" or "a big hassle" can be alternatives. Ultimately, effectively employing "an excessive burden" enhances precision and impact in conveying the weight of a situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an undue strain

Replaces "burden" with "strain", emphasizing the pressure or stress caused.

an overwhelming load

Substitutes "excessive burden" with "overwhelming load", highlighting the feeling of being burdened beyond capacity.

a disproportionate weight

Replaces "burden" with "weight", adding the adjective "disproportionate" to stress the unfairness or imbalance.

an unreasonable demand

Changes the focus to the demanding aspect of the situation.

an onerous responsibility

Replaces "burden" with "responsibility", using "onerous" to describe how taxing it is.

an intolerable imposition

Replaces "burden" with "imposition", and "excessive" with "intolerable" to intensify the sense of being unfairly burdened.

an unsupportable encumbrance

Uses a more formal and legalistic tone to convey the idea of something hindering or impeding progress.

an outsize obligation

Replaces "burden" with "obligation" and "excessive" with "outsize", implying something that exceeds normal limits.

a crushing weight

Emphasizes the severity and impact of the burden.

an unbearable pressure

Focuses on the stress and strain caused by the burden.

FAQs

How can I use "an excessive burden" in a sentence?

You can use "an excessive burden" to describe something that is too difficult, heavy, or demanding. For example, "The new tax laws placed "an excessive burden" on the middle class."

What are some alternatives to "an excessive burden"?

Some alternatives include "an undue strain", "an overwhelming load", or "a disproportionate weight" depending on the specific context.

Is "an excessive burden" formal or informal?

"An excessive burden" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional, academic, or news-related contexts. In more casual settings, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate.

What makes something "an excessive burden"?

Something becomes "an excessive burden" when it places too much pressure, difficulty, or responsibility on an individual, organization, or system, making it difficult or impossible to manage effectively.