being overly anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being overly anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a state of excessive worry or nervousness about a situation. Example: "She found it difficult to concentrate on her studies due to being overly anxious about the upcoming exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Panicking can lead you into being overly anxious, and potentially falling victim to further problems.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It can't be overly anxious or easily startled.

The New York Times - Health

"I don't want to be overly anxious and go out and reinjure myself," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

But I do know what it is like to be overly anxious about this stuff.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Benefield also disputed suggestions that the employees were overly anxious, adding that staff turnover is not unusual after a director leaves.

The New York Times - Arts

The British physician D. W. Winnicott coined the term "good enough mother" in part to help mothers who were overly anxious about their parenting skills.

The New York Times - Health

Robert M. Teeter, a Republican pollster, said politicians in his party tended to be overly anxious about how their tax cuts benefited the wealthy.

The New York Times

Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver's so-called Love Quiz found that 20% are overly anxious that their partner is having an affair or doesn't really love them; another 20% feel drained by partners wanting to get too close; and 60% seem OK, happily depending on partners and allowing partners to be dependent on them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Neither sex appeared to be overly anxious to become parents, as their relative responses to the query concerning pro-natalist attitudes was somewhat low.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

I was overly anxious and severely depressed.

Huffington Post

But documents in the civil case that Heyward filed against the city, as well as statements from witnesses and several retired NYPD detectives, indicate that Officer George was overly anxious and perhaps poorly trained, and that it is possible he may not have seen a gun – toy or real – in Nicholas's hands at all.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a temporary state of heightened worry, use "being overly anxious" to convey a sense of current emotional distress. For example, "She is being overly anxious about the presentation."

Common error

Avoid using "being overly anxious" when describing positive anticipation. While both can involve heightened emotions, anxiety implies worry or unease, whereas excitement suggests positive anticipation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being overly anxious" functions as a present participle phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of excessive worry or nervousness. It highlights a current condition. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe temporary or ongoing emotional states.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being overly anxious" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a state of excessive worry or nervousness. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples from diverse sources, with News & Media being the most frequent. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it's important to consider the context to ensure appropriate usage, avoiding confusion with excitement or positive anticipation. By understanding the function, purpose, and potential pitfalls of "being overly anxious", writers can effectively and accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Experiencing heightened anxiety

Highlights the increased level of anxiety being felt.

Dealing with exaggerated anxiety

Focuses on the disproportionate nature of the anxious response.

Feeling excessively nervous

Focuses on the emotional experience of nervousness rather than the degree of anxiety.

Being excessively apprehensive

Uses a more formal term, 'apprehensive', to convey a similar meaning.

Struggling with excessive worry

Emphasizes the ongoing struggle with anxious thoughts.

Feeling intensely uneasy

Shifts the focus to a general feeling of unease and discomfort.

Being exceedingly concerned

Replaces 'anxious' with 'concerned', indicating a heightened level of care or worry.

Demonstrating excessive concern

Indicates that the concern is observable and beyond what is typical.

Grappling with severe unease

Highlights the intense nature of the discomfort.

Having extreme trepidation

Uses 'trepidation,' suggesting a fear or apprehension about what might happen.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "being overly anxious" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "feeling excessively nervous", "experiencing heightened anxiety", or "struggling with excessive worry" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "being overly anxious"?

Yes, "being overly anxious" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a state of excessive worry or nervousness. Ludwig AI confirms its validity based on a vast collection of examples.

What is the difference between "being anxious" and "being overly anxious"?

"Being anxious" describes a general state of worry or unease. "Being overly anxious" implies that the level of anxiety is excessive or disproportionate to the situation.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "being overly anxious"?

Use "being overly anxious" when you want to emphasize that someone's anxiety is beyond a normal or reasonable level. For example, "He's "being too worried" about a minor detail, he's "being overly anxious"."