excess time

USAGE SUMMARY

'excess time' is correct and usable in written English.
It typically refers to time that is not necessary or that goes over the usual or expected amount. For example: "We have completed the project within the allocated budget, leaving us with excess time to focus on other tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

It was to avoid excess time and cost.

The Guardian

This exists solely to drain off excess time".

The New York Times - Arts

If a hearing day exceeds eight hours, then additional pro rata charges for the excess time may be made.

Cornell University

A fourth time out under these conditions is not penalized, but thereafter they are treated as excess time outs and will be penalized".

The Guardian - Sport

In it, anyone with excess time or space — or a car and a driver's license — can easily become an entrepreneur with little to no start-up costs.

The New York Times - Magazine

Nanodiamond monolayer coatings are obtained by ultrasonicating substrates in the ND solution (0.05 g/L of NDs) for 10 minutes (excess time).

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Substance abuse was noted if the participant reported using drugs or alcohol on a regular basis; more than two times per week or in excess each time [ 33].

Conflict and Health

"Some people find that this is music about excess: its time and length are excessive.

The New York Times - Arts

Got away without weighing it again, so only £64 excess this time.

The Guardian - Music

The yield and enantiomeric excess versus time behavior was studied using a large substrate/catalyst ratio.

Catalysis Today

Worse still, Seguin said, excess sedentary time tends to make it harder to regain physical strength and function.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excess time" to refer to treatment of parameters of a production process to show you are aware that parameters should be optimized and not be exaggerated or un-necessarily protracted.

Common error

Avoid using "excess time" interchangeably with "overtime". "Overtime" specifically refers to hours worked beyond the regular schedule, usually with additional pay, while "excess time" simply means more time than necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excess time" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It identifies an amount of time that is more than needed or expected. As seen in Ludwig, this phrase indicates periods available beyond what is typically required for a task or activity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excess time" is a versatile noun phrase used to denote time beyond what is necessary or expected. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and finds common usage across news, scientific, and general contexts. While "surplus time" and "additional time" serve as suitable alternatives, "excess time" remains a clear and widely understood way to express the concept of having more time than required for a given activity. Understanding the context is important to avoid confusion with similar terms like "overtime".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surplus time

Indicates more time available than required, focusing on the abundance.

additional time

Suggests an extra amount of time, but less emphasis on it being unnecessary.

extra time

Similar to 'additional time', but implies that the time is beyond the original allocation.

spare time

Implies time that is free from obligations and can be used at one's discretion.

unnecessary time

Directly indicates that the time spent is not needed or is redundant.

redundant time

Similar to 'unnecessary time', highlighting that the time is superfluous.

overtime

Specifically refers to time worked beyond regular hours, often in a professional context.

idle time

Implies time spent not actively engaged or being productive.

leisure time

Refers to time dedicated to relaxation and enjoyment, contrasting with obligatory activities.

free time

General term for time not occupied by work or duties, similar to 'spare time'.

FAQs

How can I use "excess time" in a sentence?

You might say, "The project was completed ahead of schedule, leaving the team with "excess time" to dedicate to other tasks".

What's a good alternative to "excess time"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "surplus time", "additional time", or "spare time".

Is "excess time" formal or informal?

The phrase "excess time" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.

When is it appropriate to use "excess time" in project management?

In project management, "excess time" can be used to describe periods where tasks are completed faster than anticipated, creating opportunities to reallocate resources or address other project needs.