excess of plot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excess of plot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation in a narrative where there is too much plot or too many events, making the story convoluted or difficult to follow. Example: "The movie was entertaining, but the excess of plot left many viewers confused about the main storyline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The excess of plot leaves little room for character.

The Guardian - Film

The chief features of the spy thriller in its original British form were an excess of plot over character; a fascination with weaponry, aviation and other advanced technology; and a sort of fawning hostility to women.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In order to determine the partial order with respect to saccharin (N H compound) kinetic measurements were performed under pseudo-first-order conditions with twofold excess of DMAD (1) by plotting the UV vis absorbance versus time at a wavelength of 305 nm for the reaction between (1) (10−2 M), (2) (5 × 10−3 M) and (N H) (5 × 10−3M) at 18 °C in methanol.

Chemistry Central Journal

A total of 2716 1-ha LiDAR-based AFCS plots were created, avoiding an excess of path boundaries, field measurement plots, agricultural fields, clear cut areas, water areas, and built structures including buildings and roads.

Carbon Balance and Management

Estimates of excess mortality and plots of baseline trends were determined separately for the age groups 65 74, 75+ and 45 64 years (the latter age group being 'unexposed' to a change in vaccine policy or coverage over the period).

BMJ Open

At times, an excess of detail threatens to overwhelm the plot: no aquamarine glaze goes undescribed, no psychological process unmentioned.

The New Yorker

"Traffic in Souls" is not a very accomplished film (particularly when compared with what was being made in France at the time, like Louis Feuillade's "Fantômas"), with an excess of underdeveloped characters and a scrambled plot structure.

The New York Times

The funnel plot revealed an excess of smaller studies with extreme estimates, both high and low, of VAI rate.

BMC Infectious Diseases

There is a very marked "rebound" in the likelihood of an event after stopping treatment, but no excess of events in the cumulative hazard plot.

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

Mineral N concentrations in soil from plots subjected to application of 15 and 30 Mg/ha of high N manure were 146 171 and 143 308 % in excess of those recorded in the control plots.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

After the binding was competed with increasing amounts of an unlabelled oligonucleotide corresponding to allele C, the inverse of the intensity of the major band was plotted against the excess of unlabelled oligonucleotide.

BMC Medical Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing a narrative, specify which elements of the "excess of plot" are detrimental, such as underdeveloped characters or a confusing timeline.

Common error

Avoid simply stating there's an "excess of plot" without providing specific examples of how the plot's complexity detracts from other elements of the story, such as character development or thematic coherence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excess of plot" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It is used to describe a characteristic of a narrative, as evidenced by Ludwig AI's assessment and the examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excess of plot" describes a narrative flaw where the storyline is overly complicated or has too many events. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While examples are rare, the phrase appears in credible sources like The Guardian and The New York Times, used to critique narratives. To avoid vagueness, specify which elements contribute to the overcomplexity, instead of making a superficial statement. Alternative phrases include "overabundance of storyline" or "convoluted plot".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convoluted plot

Indicates that the plot is twisted and difficult to follow.

overabundance of storyline

Replaces "excess" with "overabundance" and "plot" with "storyline" to emphasize the surplus.

surplus of storyline

Emphasizes the oversupply of plot events.

overcomplicated narrative

Points out that the narrative is too complex due to the plot.

plot-heavy narrative

Focuses on the narrative being weighed down by the plot.

too much narrative complexity

Focuses on the complexity resulting from having too much plot.

dense plot

Highlights the heaviness and complexity of the plot.

excessive plot development

Highlights the exaggerated development of the plot.

excessive story arcs

Highlights the overabundance of arcs inside the plot.

plot overload

A shorter, more direct way of saying there's too much plot.

FAQs

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

You can use "excess of plot" to describe narratives where the storyline is overly complicated or has too many events, making it difficult to follow. For example, "The film suffered from an excess of plot, leaving the audience confused."

What does "excess of plot" mean?

"Excess of plot" refers to a situation in a story where there are too many plot points or the plot is overly complex, often to the detriment of character development or thematic clarity.

What are some alternatives to "excess of plot"?

Alternatives include "overabundance of storyline", "too much narrative complexity", or "convoluted plot".

How does an "excess of plot" affect a story?

An "excess of plot" can overwhelm the audience, detract from character development, and make the story confusing or less impactful. It often results in a lack of emotional connection or thematic resonance.