but overly so

USAGE SUMMARY

'but overly so' is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has been taken to an extreme. For example: She was eager to help, but overly so.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Of course some female bosses had been more nurturing--but overly so, and some male bosses had been the-shoot-from-the-hip type--but to the point they came across as complete asses.

Huffington Post

That energetic one will likely grow up to be very dominant, and the lagging one may grow up to be overly sensitive or resort to fear aggression, whereas the perfect puppy will grow up to be protective but not overly so, and friendly but again not overly so.

WikiHow

When I searched my (numerous) cookbooks for something chocolately, but not a brownie, sweet, but not overly so, I did not find exactly what I had in mind.

Huffington Post

Ideally patients undergoing evaluation of the urinary tract should be well hydrated, but not overly so, and have a partly filled, but not distended bladder.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Vocals are warm but not overly so, and you can hear every breath and every detail, but without detracting from the overall musicality.

TechCrunch

The meat itself is amply seasoned but not overly so; allowing for a tart char to permeate every bite but not overpower it.

Los Angeles Times

It is sweet, but not overly so.

The New York Times - Food

Waiters were friendly, but not overly so.

The New York Times

It was complicated at times, but not overly so.

The New York Times

Good texts are snappy and witty — careful and considered, but not overly so.

The New Yorker

Good texts are snappy and witty careful and considered, but not overly so.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but overly so" to indicate a contrast between a desired level and an excessive level of something. This construction works well when you want to acknowledge a positive quality while pointing out its negative extreme.

Common error

While "but overly so" is grammatically correct, using it too frequently can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure and vocabulary by using synonyms or rephrasing the sentence to avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but overly so" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a preceding clause. It adds a qualification, indicating that while something is true to some extent, it is excessively so. The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but overly so" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that something, while true to some extent, is excessively so. The Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It functions as an adverbial phrase, adding a qualification or reservation to a preceding statement. While its register is generally neutral, its frequency is relatively rare. To avoid repetition, consider using alternatives such as "but excessively so" or "but too much so". The phrase appears across various contexts, including news, wiki, and science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but excessively so

Replaces "overly" with "excessively", emphasizing the extreme nature of the excess.

but too much so

Uses "too much" instead of "overly" to convey the idea of something being excessive.

but excessively

Simplifies the phrase by removing "so", focusing directly on the excessive nature.

but excessively extreme

Emphasizes the extreme nature of the excessiveness.

but to an extreme

Highlights the idea of something reaching an extreme level.

but disproportionately

Indicates that the degree of something is out of proportion or balance.

but unreasonably so

Conveys that the degree of something is not reasonable or justified.

but unduly so

Uses "unduly" to suggest that the degree of something is inappropriate or unwarranted.

but immoderately

Indicates a lack of moderation or restraint.

but intemperately

Suggests a lack of self-control or restraint.

FAQs

How can I use "but overly so" in a sentence?

Use "but overly so" to express that something is true to a degree that is excessive or undesirable. For example, "He was enthusiastic, "but overly so", which made him seem pushy."

What are some alternatives to "but overly so"?

Alternatives include phrases like "but excessively so", "but too much so", or simply "but excessively", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more correct to say "but overly so" or "but excessively so"?

Both "but overly so" and "but excessively so" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on stylistic preference, although "excessively" often carries a slightly stronger connotation.

What's the difference between "but overly so" and "but not overly so"?

"But overly so" indicates that something is true to an excessive degree, while "but not overly so" suggests that something is present but not to an excessive or problematic degree. They express opposite ideas.