ever too many

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ever too many" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing abundance or excess, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "In my opinion, there can never be ever too many books in a library."

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As ever, too many of Albany's politicians are focused solely on their own political futures — worrying that some political challenger will blame them for raising taxes, even a tiny bit.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Corbyn's image may by now be sealed for ever with too many.

The Guardian - Opinion

After all, Mao was no Malthusian – fired by a boundless sense of human possibility, he denied there could ever be too many people.

The Guardian - Books

"But I don't think you can ever write too many thank-you notes," said Hilka Klinkenberg, whose firm, Etiquette International, advises business leaders.

The New York Times

But disenthralling ourselves, seeing the world and its perils afresh, may be even harder now than it has ever been — too many diversions, too murky and vaporous a peril, too little sense of urgency, an enemy that is more us than them.

The New York Times

· Moleskine 2008 diary £9.33 and Triathlete's training diary both from Amazon.co.uk 8. Cycling tops No cyclist can ever have too many cycling tops, and Foska's stand out from the crowd with their simple but eye-catching prints - from a Marmite design to a page of the London A-Z, the malt loaf label to a rather fetching fuchsia print.

The Guardian - Sport

If you've ever eaten too many sugar-free mints containing xylitol then you might have experienced this for yourself.

BBC

You ever do too many drugs?

Vice

I don't think you can ever have too many hugs.

Huffington Post

Impact journalism like this is important now more than ever because too many Americans have lost faith in the news media.

Huffington Post

Not that I ever took too many anyway.

BMC Women's Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically acceptable, consider using the simpler and more common phrase "too many" for clearer and more direct communication.

Common error

Avoid using "ever too many" in formal writing as it can sound awkward. Opt for clearer alternatives like "too many" or "far too many" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever too many" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun to indicate an excessive quantity. It adds emphasis to the abundance, suggesting that there is more than what is needed or desired. While Ludwig AI indicates this phrase may cause confusion, it finds usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

23%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

14%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ever too many" indicates an excessive quantity, but is less common and more awkward than simpler alternatives. As Ludwig AI notes, it might cause confusion. While grammatically acceptable, "too many" or ""far too many"" are generally preferred for clarity and impact. Consider the context and desired tone to ensure the chosen phrase aligns with the overall message, opting for simpler phrasing in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too many

Omits "ever", resulting in a more direct and common expression of excess.

far too many

Adds emphasis to the excess, indicating a significantly larger quantity than desired.

an excessive number of

Replaces the informal "too many" with a more formal and descriptive phrase.

a plethora of

Indicates a large or excessive quantity, often used in a positive or humorous context.

overabundance of

Focuses on the surplus or excess of something, often implying a negative consequence.

too much

Similar in meaning to "too many", but generally used for uncountable nouns.

more than enough

Indicates that there is a sufficient or excessive amount of something.

an abundance of

Highlights the plentiful or rich supply of something.

a great deal of

Implies a large quantity of something, without necessarily suggesting excess.

in excess

A more formal way of indicating that something is beyond the acceptable or necessary limit.

FAQs

What does "ever too many" mean?

The phrase "ever too many" suggests an excess or an abundance, implying that there's a quantity larger than what is desired or necessary. It's often used to emphasize that something is excessively numerous.

Is "ever too many" grammatically correct?

While the phrase isn't ungrammatical, it is not very commonly used in formal English. More common and straightforward alternatives like "too many" or ""far too many"" are generally preferred.

How can I use "ever too many" in a sentence?

You can use "ever too many" to describe situations where the quantity of something is perceived as excessive. For example, "There can never be "ever too many" books in a library" illustrates a subjective view on an overabundance of books.

What are some alternatives to using "ever too many"?

Alternatives include "too many", ""far too many"", "an excessive number of", or "a plethora of". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey.