excess of caution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excess of caution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is being overly careful or prudent in their actions or decisions. Example: "In an excess of caution, the team decided to postpone the event until the weather improved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

It leads to an excess of caution.

The New York Times

But their excess of caution is all about protecting themselves.

The New York Times

"It's probably an excess of caution on my part," Mr. Kindlon said.

The New York Times

Vietnam-induced excess of caution had given way to Bosnian-induced hubris.

The New York Times

"It's just out of the excess of caution," said Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani at a news conference yesterday.

The New York Times

A federal law enforcement official said yesterday that the memo was prepared "out of an excess of caution".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

The problem was likely an excess of political caution (or wishful thinking) in designing the stimulus.

The New York Times

Carla Williams said a cease and desist request sent by the university compliance office "was just a misunderstanding" and the result of excess caution.

The Washington Post

"Basically, my story is just one of excess versus caution," Ms. Moore said.

The New York Times

The Crystal Cathedral's attorney, Marc Winthrop, said the judge on Monday granted an emergency motion to amend the sale terms as a way of exercising excess caution, and called the motion a "clarification". "We'll just close when we can," Winthrop said.

Los Angeles Times

It is left to Bob Hardy to sound a note of caution about the whole concept of art rock and the terrible excesses it can lead to.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excess of caution" to emphasize a decision-making process or action taken with considerable diligence and risk mitigation, often beyond standard practices. This highlights the proactive measure taken to avoid potential negative outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "excess of caution" when simply describing necessary or standard safety measures. The phrase implies a level of care that goes above and beyond, so use it only when the situation warrants highlighting the exceptional degree of carefulness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excess of caution" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it's often used to describe situations where carefulness exceeds reasonable limits. For example, one might say actions were taken "out of an excess of caution."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excess of caution" is a noun phrase used to describe situations where someone is being overly careful or prudent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it finds use across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, as well as in academic settings. The phrase often carries a nuance of judgment, implying that the caution exercised may be disproportionate to the risk involved. Alternatives such as "overabundance of prudence" or "extreme risk aversion" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis. When employing "excess of caution", ensure the context clearly conveys the notion of carefulness exceeding what is normally required. Using this phrase allows you to emphasize proactive measures taken to mitigate potential negative outcomes. However, be mindful not to apply it in situations where standard safety measures are simply being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overabundance of prudence

Replaces "caution" with "prudence" and "excess" with "overabundance", emphasizing carefulness.

exaggerated carefulness

Uses "exaggerated" to intensify the degree of carefulness, altering the descriptive focus.

extreme risk aversion

Emphasizes the avoidance of risk, changing the perspective from caution to aversion.

undue meticulousness

Focuses on being excessively detailed and precise, shifting from general caution to specific actions.

overly circumspect behavior

Highlights the cautious behavior, using a more formal tone with "circumspect".

unwarranted timidity

Indicates a lack of courage or confidence that is not justified, changing the focus to fear.

excessive wariness

Replaces "caution" with "wariness", suggesting heightened suspicion and distrust.

hyper-vigilance

Highlights an extreme state of alertness, moving from caution to constant monitoring.

overprotective measures

Implies actions taken to shield from harm, focusing on the protectiveness rather than the caution itself.

superfluous preventative actions

Suggests actions taken are unnecessary, highlighting redundancy in caution.

FAQs

What does "excess of caution" mean?

The phrase "excess of caution" refers to a situation where someone is being overly careful or prudent, often more than the circumstances reasonably require. It suggests a level of attentiveness to risk that might be seen as extreme or unnecessary.

How can I use "excess of caution" in a sentence?

You might say, "Out of an "excess of caution", the company recalled all products manufactured during that period" or "The government's "excess of caution" prevented any progress on the matter".

What are some alternatives to "excess of caution"?

Alternatives include "overabundance of prudence", "exaggerated carefulness", or "extreme risk aversion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a negative connotation associated with "excess of caution"?

Yes, "excess of caution" often implies that the carefulness is hindering progress or is disproportionate to the actual risk. It suggests that the person or entity is perhaps too risk-averse.