excessive complexity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive complexity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe any situation that is too complicated, or difficult to understand for a given purpose. For example, "The new tax code is so excessively complex that no one can make sense of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Windows is like a command-and-control economy, he says; excessive complexity brought down communism.

The Economist

Nearly 70% of managers admit that excessive complexity is raising their costs and hindering their profit growth.

Harvard Business Review

He told Phil Angelides, the chairman of the commission, that "we had excessive complexity in financial products".

The New York Times

"The excessive complexity of the securitization sector" made it "close to impossible to make decisions on an adequately informed basis".

The New York Times

Nearly 70% admit that excessive complexity is raising their costs and hindering their profit growth, according to a 2005 Bain survey of more than 900 global executives.

Harvard Business Review

One common form of reaction opposes what younger vanguard artists believe to be excessive complexity, ornamentation or showy virtuosity on the part of their elders.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

The excessive-complexity fault: I am at my office, it is almost noon, and I discover with considerable panic that I forgot to retrieve from my home computer the crucial overheads I need for an imminent lunch meeting.

MIT Technology Review

As system designers we must begin the long overdue corrective actions against the excessive-complexity fault by simplifying options, restricting them, and, most important, reversing a design point of view rooted in decades-old habits.

MIT Technology Review

A major cause of unreliable models is excessive model complexity, and regularization methods aim to improve the predictive performance by adequately constraining model complexity.

Ecological Modelling

The limitations of heterogeneity as a design and management goal are also discussed, including links between heterogeneity and disturbance, undesirable outcomes of excessive landscape complexity and present lack of criteria for its optimal levels.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Ethernet architectures based on routing over a virtual topology in which turns are prohibited offer improved performance over spanning tree, although in some cases suffer from excessive computational complexity.

Computer Networks

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "excessive complexity" with simpler terms like "unnecessary complication" or "overly intricate design" to enhance understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive complexity" as a blanket criticism in technical documents. Instead, specify the exact aspects that are too complex and suggest concrete simplifications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive complexity" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "excessive" modifies the noun "complexity". It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, often indicating a negative attribute of a system or process as noted in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive complexity" is a commonly used expression that indicates a situation or system is unnecessarily complicated. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across diverse fields, including science, news, and business. While synonyms like "unnecessary complexity" and "inordinate complexity" exist, the core meaning remains consistent: a level of complication that hinders understanding or efficiency. When using this phrase, it's important to provide specific examples of what aspects are too complex to avoid vague criticism. The prevalence of "excessive complexity" in authoritative sources suggests that it's a valuable term for discussing issues in various contexts, but mindful application and specific context can improve clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inordinate complexity

Replaces "excessive" with "inordinate", suggesting a complexity beyond reasonable limits.

unnecessary complexity

Emphasizes that the complexity is not needed or justified.

undue complexity

Similar to "unnecessary complexity", implying the complexity is unwarranted.

superfluous complexity

Highlights that the complexity is beyond what is required or sufficient.

overblown complexity

Suggests that the complexity has been exaggerated or amplified.

high complexity

Indicates a significant degree of complexity, though not necessarily negative.

obsessive complexity

Implies an unhealthy or extreme focus on making something complex.

extravagant complexity

Suggests that the complexity is elaborate and possibly wasteful.

prohibitive complexity

Indicates that the complexity makes something impractical or impossible.

extensive complexity

Highlights the broad scope or reach of the complexity involved.

FAQs

How can I use "excessive complexity" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive complexity" to describe situations where something is unnecessarily complicated. For example, "The project failed due to its "excessive complexity"."

What are some alternatives to "excessive complexity"?

Alternatives include "unnecessary complexity", "undue complexity", or "inordinate complexity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "excessive complexity" and "high complexity"?

"High complexity" simply indicates a significant degree of complication. "Excessive complexity" implies that the complication is beyond what is necessary or desirable.

When is "excessive complexity" most likely to be a problem?

"Excessive complexity" is often a problem in areas like software design, financial products, and bureaucratic processes, where simplicity and transparency are crucial for understanding and efficiency.