excess of confidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excess of confidence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has too much confidence, often leading to negative consequences. Example: "His excess of confidence in his abilities led him to underestimate the challenges ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Julia Stiles also captures well Carol's youthful frailty and quivering uncertainty, but she never makes clear where her later excess of confidence comes from.

The Guardian

If you believe that your industry is an instrument of human liberation, then you're likely to feel an excess of confidence in your ability to tackle or speak about subjects you know nothing about – in much the same way that a Christian fundamentalist might feel qualified to give an opinion on homosexuality, say, or the age of the universe.

The Guardian - Tech

We must guard ourselves from any excess of confidence.

BBC

There exists an excess of confidence in structural measures which has made the residents underestimate the impact of accumulating risk and biased the decision-making process.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

The girls intuitively understood that an excess of confidence would poison their social status at camp.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A professor of finance and an expert in trading culture, Catherine Lubochinsky, told the court this week that "excesses of confidence" and rule-breaking were part of the "psychology" of trading floors, which attracted people with "higher than usual levels of testosterone".

Independent

From our current perspective, the Burj Dubai symbolises catastrophic excess – of money, confidence, ambition, energy consumption.

The Guardian - Arts

"When it's written down in black and white it tends to take on a reality that is oftentimes in excess of the confidence felt by the people who were writing it," Dr. Cambone said of the manner in which intelligence reports are sometimes transmitted.

The New York Times

Over the three year period, we estimate an excess of 1799195%95% confidence interval 3410 to 31 772) readmissions in heart failure, 7153 22977 to 11 733) in acute myocardial infarction, and 14 127 (4617 to 23 115) in pneumonia.

British Medical Journal

We profiled the proteome of LNCaP cells with and without androgen treatment using two proteomic platforms: quantitative iTRAQ MALDI-TOF MS and semi-quantitative MudPIT Ion Trap MS. Each of the platforms independently identified in excess of 850 high confidence proteins, yielding a total of 1306.

Plosone

Ezra Pound wrote that Harry's was "a death from excess vitality, a vote of confidence in the cosmos".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Recognize that while confidence is generally positive, an "excess of confidence" can lead to poor decision-making and underestimation of risks. Balance self-belief with realistic assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "excess of confidence" to justify reckless behavior or dismiss cautionary advice. Even with high confidence, thorough planning and risk assessment are essential for achieving desired outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excess of confidence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a state or quality. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

39%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excess of confidence" describes a situation where someone has too much confidence, often leading to negative consequences. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While confidence is generally positive, an "excess of confidence" can be detrimental. It's important to distinguish between healthy confidence, rooted in competence, and an inflated sense of self. Alternatives include "overconfidence", "excessive self-assurance", and "inflated ego". Remember that using "excess of confidence" to justify poor behavior is a common pitfall.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Overconfidence

Single word alternative, direct synonym.

Unwarranted self-confidence

Highlights the lack of justification for the confidence.

Excessive self-assurance

Replaces "confidence" with a more formal synonym.

Exaggerated self-belief

Highlights the unrealistic nature of the confidence.

Undue belief in oneself

Emphasizes the inappropriateness of the level of confidence.

Too much faith in one's abilities

Focuses on the abilities and the high level of faith.

Inflated ego

Implies a sense of superiority and arrogance.

A superiority complex

Psychological term for an inflated sense of self-importance.

Arrogance

Single word expressing extreme self-importance.

Hubris

Suggests a dangerous level of pride, often leading to downfall.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "excess of confidence"?

Alternatives include "overconfidence", "excessive self-assurance", or "inflated ego" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to have an "excess of confidence"?

While confidence is generally positive, an "excess of confidence" can lead to underestimation of risks, poor decision-making, and a failure to adequately prepare for challenges. It's important to balance self-belief with realistic assessment.

What are the potential consequences of an "excess of confidence"?

An "excess of confidence" can lead to negative outcomes such as taking unnecessary risks, ignoring advice from others, and ultimately failing to achieve desired goals. It's crucial to remain grounded and open to feedback, even when feeling highly confident.

How does "excess of confidence" differ from healthy confidence?

Healthy confidence is rooted in competence and realistic self-assessment, while "excess of confidence" often involves an inflated sense of one's abilities and a disregard for potential challenges or limitations. Healthy confidence is balanced and adaptable, whereas "excess of confidence" can be rigid and self-deceptive.