but not excessively

USAGE SUMMARY

"but not excessively" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to add an adjective or adverb to a sentence in order to modify the degree of something. For example: "I enjoy eating chocolate, but not excessively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She seemed reasonably, but not excessively, introspective.

The New York Times - Magazine

SOUND LEVEL Loud, but not excessively.

The New York Times - Food

Privileged, certainly, but not excessively so, I believe.

Independent

The body leans over in faster corners, but not excessively.

The New York Times

He is richly, fashionably dressed – but not excessively so.

Independent

Her attire is more elaborate, but not excessively so.

The New York Times - Arts

The programme was admired and popular, but not excessively so.

The Guardian

We do have people smoking, but not excessively".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Shays is a Republican, but not excessively so.

The Guardian - Opinion

Robinson fouled him, but not excessively, and the moment passed.

The New York Times - Sports

To care for Poinsettia, soil should be kept moist at all times, but not excessively wet.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but not excessively" to qualify statements where a certain degree of something is acceptable or even desirable, but going too far would be detrimental. For example, "The dish was spicy, but not excessively, allowing the other flavors to shine through."

Common error

While "but not excessively" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and nuanced language that directly specifies the degree or limitation you intend to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but not excessively" functions as a qualifier or modifier, adding nuance to a preceding statement by indicating a limit or boundary. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly usable and modifies the degree of something. Its role is to temper or moderate a characteristic or action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but not excessively" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating moderation or limitation. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable in written English and serves to add an adjective or adverb to modify the degree of something. With usage spanning across news, scientific, and formal business contexts, it is particularly valuable for qualifying statements where a certain degree of something is acceptable, so long as it doesn't reach an extreme. While versatile, overuse in highly formal contexts should be avoided, favoring more precise terminology where possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but not to excess

A direct replacement of "excessively" with "to excess", maintaining the meaning.

but not overly

Replaces "excessively" with "overly", keeping the meaning of 'not to an extreme degree'.

but not immoderately

A more formal synonym, replacing "excessively" with "immoderately".

but within reason

Emphasizes moderation and sensible limits on an action or quality.

but in moderation

Highlights balance and avoidance of extremes.

but not to a fault

Suggests a limit before something becomes negative or detrimental.

but with restraint

Focuses on controlled behavior and limited expression.

but kept within bounds

Indicates that something is confined or restricted to certain limits.

but held in check

Emphasizes that something is controlled and prevented from becoming excessive.

but not intensely

Shifts the focus to the intensity rather than the excess, implying a similar level of moderation.

FAQs

How can I use "but not excessively" in a sentence?

Use "but not excessively" to indicate that something exists to a certain degree, but not to an extreme or undesirable level. For example, "The feedback was critical, but not excessively, and offered constructive suggestions."

What can I say instead of "but not excessively"?

You can use alternatives like "but within reason", "but not overly", or "but in moderation" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "but not excessively"?

Yes, the phrase "but not excessively" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express moderation or limitation.

What is the difference between "but not excessively" and "but not extremely"?

While both phrases express moderation, "but not excessively" implies avoiding something that goes beyond a reasonable or acceptable limit, whereas "but not extremely" simply means something isn't to a very high degree. The best one to use depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.