excess space

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excess space" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an area or volume that is more than what is necessary or required. Example: "The new office layout has created excess space that we can utilize for additional storage."

✓ Grammatically correct

Real estate

Business

Urban planning

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It becomes excess space".

The New York Times

We've got excess space, yet we have to rebuild.

The New Yorker

But then, excess space is defined differently by different people".

The New York Times

In today's market, it is negotiating buyout agreements with tenants with excess space.

The New York Times

Because it rigorously details the inventory, this step often uncovers excess space.

Harvard Business Review

That makes them the ones who have to sublet excess space.

The Economist

Atlantic Philanthropies had excess space at 125 Park; they had moved to Varick Street.

The New York Times

Excess space partly explains the fashion frenzy, in the opinion of the art critic Dave Hickey.

The New York Times

Over the last two years, AT&T has been trimming excess space as leases expire, and introducing a telecommuting policy.

The New York Times

It cashed in on excess space in its wastewater disposal system — $55 million worth — but no longer owns the facility.

The New York Times

"A lot of companies are trying to shed excess space ahead of what is expected to be a worse market in 2009," Mr. Rogers said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing real estate or storage, quantify "excess space" with units like square feet or cubic meters for clarity. For example: "The warehouse has 500 square feet of excess space."

Common error

Avoid using "excess space" when you actually mean 'personal space'. "Excess space" generally refers to unused or unnecessary area in a building, container, or other defined boundary, while personal space means the physical space surrounding a person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excess space" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies an area or volume that exceeds the required or utilized amount. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is used to describe real estate, storage, and capacity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excess space" is a common noun phrase that refers to an area or volume that is more than what is necessary or required. As shown by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used in diverse contexts, including business, real estate, and urban planning. While "excess space" is generally appropriate for professional or neutral registers, there are more formal alternatives, such as "surplus area" or "underutilized space", that might be better suited for certain specific contexts. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is important not to confuse it with "personal space", and be sure to quantify "excess space" using units like square feet or cubic meters for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surplus area

Replaces 'excess' with 'surplus', emphasizing the idea of more than is needed.

unused space

Focuses on the lack of utilization of the area.

unoccupied area

Similar to 'unused space', but emphasizes that the area is vacant.

spare footage

Emphasizes additional square footage that is not currently in use.

underutilized space

Highlights that the space is not used to its full potential.

available area

Highlights the fact that space is not being occupied.

redundant square footage

Uses 'redundant' to denote unnecessary or superfluous space.

extra room

A simpler way to refer to additional space, especially in residential contexts.

vacant premises

Formally describes empty commercial or residential locations.

unfilled capacity

Refers to the difference between available and utilized volume of area.

FAQs

How can I describe "excess space" in a more formal context?

In formal settings, consider using alternatives like "surplus area", "underutilized space", or "unoccupied area" for a more professional tone.

What is the difference between "excess space" and "personal space"?

"Excess space" refers to unused or unnecessary area within a defined boundary, such as a building or container. "Personal space", on the other hand, refers to the physical space immediately surrounding a person.

How do companies deal with "excess space" in their offices?

Companies often try to sublease their "excess space", consolidate departments, or implement telecommuting policies to reduce their real estate footprint and costs.

What are some common causes of "excess space" in commercial real estate?

Common causes include economic downturns, company downsizing, mergers and acquisitions, and shifts in workforce strategies like increased remote work.