become unwieldy

USAGE SUMMARY

"become unwieldy" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing something that has become difficult to manage or handle due to its size or complexity. An example: "The project began to become unwieldy as more team members joined." Alternative expressions include "become cumbersome," "grow unmanageable," and "turn awkward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Too much, too quickly, she advises him, can become unwieldy.

The New York Times - Books

Some class sizes have become unwieldy, they said, requiring 60-hour weeks and compromising instruction.

The New York Times

The ever-expanding E6 family had become unwieldy and, post-Aeroplane, Mangum wasn't the only member with personal problems.

The Guardian - Music

Reichert assumed his leadership role at Birkenstock in 2013, with the task of restructuring a company that had become unwieldy in its organization and unreliable in its production.

The New Yorker

But recently there has been a feeling that the arrangement has become unwieldy, distracting and not quite as representative as it once was.

The Economist

Even poor populations should eventually stop growing when they become unwieldy, said Dr. Partha S. Dasgupta, a professor of economics at Cambridge University.

The New York Times - Science

Instead, they become unwieldy and odd — odder even than the explicitly "strange" elements of Wilson's work: infants with teeth or cheerleaders obsessed with model cars.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The whole became unwieldy and unaffordable.

The Economist

But those photo collections swelled quickly and soon became unwieldy.

The New Yorker

His topic becomes unwieldy, and his writing sloppy.

The New York Times - Books

The hodgepodge conglomerate became unwieldy, and many of its parts have since been sold.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "become unwieldy", ensure the context clearly establishes what is becoming difficult to handle. Be specific about the cause of the difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "become unwieldy" in situations where simpler terms like "become difficult" or "become challenging" would suffice. Reserve it for situations involving genuine complexity or scale.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become unwieldy" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a process of transformation into a state of being difficult to manage or handle. This is supported by Ludwig which classifies it as correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Books

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "become unwieldy" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that describes a state of increasing difficulty in managing something due to its size or complexity. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and suitable for a variety of writing contexts. It is most frequently encountered in news, scientific, and book-related contexts, indicating its suitability for describing complex systems and processes. While alternatives like "become unmanageable" or "grow cumbersome" exist, "become unwieldy" offers a nuanced way to express the challenges associated with escalating complexity. Use the phrase when simpler terms are not enough. Always be specific about the cause of the difficulty. Make sure your audience understands what exactly is "becoming unwieldy".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become unmanageable

Emphasizes the loss of control and difficulty in managing something.

grow cumbersome

Focuses on the increasing burden and inconvenience.

become cumbersome

Similar to "grow cumbersome", but with a focus on being awkward and difficult.

turn awkward

Highlights the shift towards a clumsy or difficult situation.

become bulky

Suggests a problem of increasing size and physical difficulty.

get out of hand

Indicates a loss of control and a progression towards chaos.

escalate beyond control

Highlights the uncontrolled growth and increasing intensity.

develop into a problem

Shifts the focus to the emergence of a problematic situation due to increasing complexity.

expand beyond capacity

Focuses on exceeding the ability to handle the growing demands.

morph into a burden

Implies a transformation into something heavy and difficult to bear.

FAQs

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

You can use "become unwieldy" to describe something that is increasingly difficult to manage due to its size or complexity. For example, "The project began to become unwieldy as more team members joined."

What can I say instead of "become unwieldy"?

You can use alternatives like "become unmanageable", "grow cumbersome", or "turn awkward" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "become unwieldy" or "become difficult"?

"Become difficult" is suitable for general situations, while "become unwieldy" is best when referring to something that has grown too large or complex to manage effectively. The phrase "become difficult" implies something hard to deal with, but not necessarily due to size or complexity.

In what situations is "become unwieldy" most appropriately used?

The phrase "become unwieldy" is most appropriate when describing systems, projects, or processes that have expanded to a point where they are challenging to control or operate efficiently. In short, when something "gets out of hand" due to size or complexity.