become excessive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become excessive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something increases to an unreasonable or extreme level. Example: "The noise from the construction site began to become excessive, making it difficult for residents to concentrate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet the focus on the currency has nonetheless become excessive.

The New York Times

At the same time, regulation can become excessive.

The New York Times

And when the crowds become excessive, "I live in my house, not on the street".

The New York Times

But on larger portfolios the fees could become excessive compared to the service.

The Guardian - Money

But if regular overseas travel is the rule, then the high commissions, unfavorable exchange rates and delivery costs become excessive".

The New York Times

And, he said, if claims associated with trauma have really become excessive, why have so many families associated with Sept. 11 failed even to ask for government compensation?

The New York Times - Arts

Reminded of the court order, the I.R.S. now says that Professor Long's requests have become excessive and could inadvertently reveal the identities of taxpayers.

The New York Times

Its causes were complex, but it seems to have been accompanied by a newly common belief that the human population would soon become excessive.

The New York Times

Only then did Mr. Romney add, "At the same time, regulation can become excessive" — not "is" excessive, as conservatives might prefer.

The New York Times

Enthusiasm is an appealing quality, but it calls out for some ­accompanying astringency, and the exclamatory nature of Williams's prose can become excessive.

The New York Times - Books

As those alterations become excessive, they may eventually lead to the cell death.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "become excessive", ensure the context clearly defines what is considered 'normal' or 'acceptable' to highlight the deviation into excess. For instance, "The bureaucracy had become excessive, hindering innovation."

Common error

Avoid using "become excessive" without clearly establishing a baseline or standard. Without context, the statement lacks impact. For example, instead of just saying "The costs become excessive", specify what the costs are exceeding, such as "The costs become excessive, surpassing the allocated budget."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become excessive" functions primarily as a predicate adjective describing the state of a subject. It indicates a transformation where something has increased beyond a reasonable or acceptable limit. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become excessive" effectively conveys that something has surpassed acceptable limits, a point supported by Ludwig. Grammatically sound and versatile, it finds frequent use across diverse fields like science, news, and formal communication. While its neutral-to-formal register lends credibility to official contexts, it’s vital to set a clear frame of reference when using the phrase, thus avoiding ambiguity. Ludwig provides ample examples that display both its appropriate use and the variety of contexts where it can appear, making it a potent tool for expressing concern or criticism when thresholds are crossed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grow to be inordinate

Replaces "excessive" with "inordinate," implying a similar state of exceeding reasonable bounds but with a connotation of disrupting order.

turn out to be extravagant

Substitutes "excessive" with "extravagant," focusing on a lavish or wasteful exceeding of what is necessary.

reach an immoderate level

Emphasizes the reaching of an extreme, specifically using "immoderate" to denote a lack of restraint.

escalate beyond control

Focuses on the loss of regulation as something intensifies, implying the excess leads to being unmanageable.

develop into overuse

Highlights that what has become excessive is due to using something too much.

swell to excess

Conveys the idea of something increasing to an amount beyond what is appropriate or needed.

prove to be undue

Replaces "excessive" with "undue," suggesting something is inappropriately or unjustifiably large or intense.

get out of hand

Highlights the unmanageable nature of the excess, focusing on a loss of control.

go too far

A more colloquial phrase emphasizing that a boundary has been crossed, resulting in excess.

become overwhelming

Focuses on the effect of the excess, highlighting that it is difficult to manage or cope with.

FAQs

How can I use "become excessive" in a sentence?

You can use "become excessive" to describe situations where something increases to an unreasonable or unacceptable degree. For example, "The regulations had "become excessive", stifling innovation."

What are some alternatives to "become excessive"?

Alternatives include "become unreasonable", "become extravagant", or "become overwhelming", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "become excessive" and "is excessive"?

"Become excessive" implies a process of increasing to an unreasonable level, while "is excessive" describes a state of already being beyond what is reasonable. For example, "The initial enthusiasm was understandable, but the demands "became excessive"" indicates a change over time.

Is "become excessive" formal or informal?

"Become excessive" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though the surrounding language should be tailored to the specific situation. You might find it in news reports as well as scientific articles.