an excessive level of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an excessive level of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity or degree that is more than what is considered reasonable or necessary. Example: "The project faced delays due to an excessive level of bureaucracy that hindered progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

In July he told his wife that he was going to do some administrative work before taking an excessive level of prescription sleeping pills.

The Times

He was 10-9 with a 3.43 E.R.A. — his lowest mark since 2002 — at the time of his suspension, for testing positive for an excessive level of testosterone.

The New York Times - Sports

Colon missed the series last year because he was serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for an excessive level of testosterone.

The New York Times - Sports

But this is a picture not of runaway borrowing, but of progress being made in dealing with an excessive level of private debt.

The New York Times

The messages were "disgraceful," Lonsdale accepted, saying he did not condone them, but argued that he, Agombar and their partners are being subjected to an excessive level of abuse and suspicion on some messageboards.

The Guardian - Sport

CABRERA BACK BUT NOT PLAYING The Giants restored Melky Cabrera to the 40-man roster, a paperwork move because his 50-game suspension for an excessive level of testosterone ended after Game 5 of the division series.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Mr. Bush has threatened to reject several of the already overdue spending bills, and the Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday renewed its opposition to the health and veterans package, saying it included an "irresponsible and excessive level of spending" and improperly tied disputed domestic dollars for health, education and labor initiatives to veterans money.

The New York Times

7 Mutations are selected on their combined ability to produce an optimal, but not excessive, level of β-catenin activation in the tumour cell, a model subsequently dubbed the 'just-right' hypothesis.

Gut

These mutations are under selective constraints such that stem cells acquire an optimal but not excessive level of Wnt signalling.

Gut

Wnt dysregulation occurs in almost all human and murine intestinal tumours and an optimal but not excessive level of Wnt activation is considered favourable for tumourigenesis.

Gut

Your goal should be a healthy (not overly excessive) level of restrictions or wishes, given the size of the portfolio the manager is handling for you, as well as your other assets; tax position; and family situation.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an excessive level of", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the acceptable or normal level should be for comparison. This provides a clearer understanding of the excess.

Common error

Avoid using "an excessive level of" without specifying what is being measured or compared. For instance, instead of saying "there was an excessive level of detail", specify "there was an excessive level of detail in the report, making it difficult to understand".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an excessive level of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun's quantity or intensity is beyond what is considered normal, acceptable, or desirable. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an excessive level of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote that something surpasses a reasonable or acceptable limit. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility across various contexts including science, news, and business. While the phrase itself is correct, ensure you provide clear context as to what the acceptable level should be and avoid vagueness by specifying what exactly is excessive. Consider alternatives like "an inordinate amount of" or "a disproportionate quantity of" for nuanced expression. Pay attention to the register, which is generally neutral but can lean towards professional based on the source.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an inordinate amount of

Replaces "level" with "amount" and "excessive" with "inordinate", suggesting a quantity that is beyond what is normal or reasonable.

an unreasonable degree of

Substitutes "level" with "degree" and "excessive" with "unreasonable", highlighting that something goes beyond what is fair or sensible.

an immoderate amount of

Similar to "inordinate", but with a stronger sense of lacking restraint.

an overabundance of

Emphasizes a state of having much more than is necessary or desirable.

a disproportionate quantity of

Uses "disproportionate quantity" to emphasize an imbalance or lack of proper proportion.

an extreme quantity of

Replaces "excessive" with "extreme", suggesting something is far beyond the normal range.

an unwarranted degree of

Implies that the "level" is not justified or deserved.

a surplus of

Uses the term "surplus", meaning more than what is needed or used.

a glut of

Indicates an excessive supply or amount of something.

too much

A more concise and direct way to express that something exceeds a limit.

FAQs

How can I use "an excessive level of" in a sentence?

Use "an excessive level of" to describe a quantity or degree that surpasses what is considered reasonable or acceptable. For example, "The company faced challenges due to "an excessive level of" bureaucracy".

What are some alternatives to "an excessive level of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "an inordinate amount of", "a disproportionate quantity of", or "an unreasonable degree of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "excessive amount" or "excessive level"?

Both "excessive amount" and "excessive level" are correct, but "level" is more suitable for abstract concepts like stress or detail, while "amount" is better for countable or measurable quantities. The choice depends on the specific context.

When is it inappropriate to use "an excessive level of"?

Avoid using "an excessive level of" when the excess is subjective and not easily quantifiable. In such cases, descriptive adjectives like "extreme" or "unreasonable" might be more appropriate.