clumsy and time-consuming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clumsy and time-consuming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or task that is awkward and takes a long time to complete. Example: "The old software was clumsy and time-consuming, making it difficult for employees to complete their tasks efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In France, another random customer found that it took at least ten working days for the euro25 that he downloaded from his wallet to reappear in his account at the Société Marseillaise de Crédit.In this section Doors now closing Watt price Unconflicted Takenaka attacked Banks play monopoly Led by example Shell games ReprintsIt was clumsy and time-consuming, but it avoided horrible bank charges.

The Economist

Frankly, it's a feature that's long overdue — the old process could be clumsy and time-consuming, and while it got the job done, nothing about it made it worth writing home about.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But the checklist can be cumbersome and time-consuming.

The New York Times

Respondents talked about how clumsy and time consuming it was to complete the SSA on paper and expressed frustration that the technology could not support the successful implementation of the SSA.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

"Is it expensive and time-consuming?

The New York Times - Science

Both processes were challenging and time-consuming.

The New Yorker

It was expensive and time-consuming.

The New Yorker

That's pricey and time-consuming.

The New York Times - Tech

And decoding is tedious and time-consuming.

The New York Times - Arts

They were all elaborate and time-consuming.

The New York Times

Theatre's so seductive and time-consuming.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process, use "clumsy and time-consuming" to emphasize not only the inefficiency but also the frustrating experience of dealing with it. For example, "Navigating the old system was both clumsy and time-consuming, leading to employee frustration."

Common error

While "clumsy and time-consuming" is accurate, overuse can make your writing monotonous. Vary your descriptions by using synonyms like "inefficient and drawn out" or "awkward and lengthy" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clumsy and time-consuming" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to describe its characteristics. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clumsy and time-consuming" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something inefficient and lengthy. Ludwig confirms its usability in various contexts. While it's a useful descriptor, be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms like "awkward and lengthy" or "inefficient and drawn-out" for variety. Remember to use it accurately to convey the intended meaning of inefficiency and extended duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awkward and lengthy

This alternative replaces "clumsy" with "awkward" and "time-consuming" with "lengthy", focusing on the inconvenient and extended nature of the process.

inefficient and drawn-out

This alternative replaces "clumsy" with "inefficient" and "time-consuming" with "drawn-out", emphasizing the lack of efficiency and the prolonged duration.

cumbersome and protracted

This alternative uses more formal vocabulary, with "cumbersome" replacing "clumsy" and "protracted" replacing "time-consuming", suitable for more formal contexts.

unwieldy and prolonged

This alternative uses "unwieldy" to convey the difficulty in handling something and "prolonged" to emphasize the extended duration.

laborious and slow

This alternative focuses on the effort required ("laborious") and the lack of speed ("slow").

difficult and lengthy

This alternative uses simpler terms to convey the problematic and time-intensive nature of something.

awkward and tedious

This alternative swaps "time-consuming" with "tedious", highlighting the boring or monotonous aspect of the task.

unwieldy and tiresome

This alternative uses "unwieldy" to describe the difficulty and "tiresome" to indicate the exhausting nature.

challenging and protracted

This alternative uses "challenging" to emphasize the difficulty and "protracted" to highlight the length of the process.

complicated and lengthy

This alternative focuses on the complexity and the extended duration of the task.

FAQs

How can I use "clumsy and time-consuming" in a sentence?

You can use "clumsy and time-consuming" to describe a process, task, or system that is both awkward or inefficient and requires a lot of time to complete. For example: "The old software update process was "clumsy and time-consuming", often taking hours to finish."

What are some alternatives to "clumsy and time-consuming"?

Alternatives include "inefficient and drawn-out", "awkward and lengthy", or "cumbersome and protracted". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "clumsy and time-consuming"?

Yes, the phrase "clumsy and time-consuming" is grammatically correct. It uses two adjectives connected by the conjunction "and" to describe something.

What's the difference between "cumbersome and time-consuming" and "clumsy and time-consuming"?

"Cumbersome" implies that something is difficult to handle or manage, while "clumsy" suggests a lack of skill or grace in handling something. Both phrases describe something "time-consuming", but they emphasize different aspects of the difficulty.