excessive damage

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessive damage" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe damage that is more than what is expected or desired. For example: - The hurricane caused excessive damage to the coastal towns. - The careless driving resulted in excessive damage to the car. - The construction work caused excessive damage to the historical building. - The fire caused excessive damage to the forest. - We had to pay a huge amount to repair the excessive damage done by the vandals.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

According to the former, pain results from excessive stimulation (e.g., excessive heat or cold, excessive damage to the tissues).

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Bradley Beach, N.J., several miles of restored dunes were breached, although smart development decisions prevented excessive damage for residents.

The New York Times

Lovejoy believes only goodwill and good practice can prevent excessive damage to the sector – "early consultation, a willingness to seek volunteers and offer other ways through".

The Guardian

Boediono said that the Federal Reserve should raise short-term interest rates, and that his experience during the Asian financial crisis made him believe that the Fed could act without causing excessive damage to the American banking system.

The New York Times

"We must avoid the trap of winning tactical victories, but suffering strategic defeats, by causing civilian casualties or excessive damage and thus alienating the people," he wrote in a tactical directive ahead of the operation.

The Economist

Mechanical hearts, which include total artificial hearts and ventricular assist devices (VADs), are machines that are capable of replacing or assisting the pumping action of the heart for prolonged periods without causing excessive damage to the blood components.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The report says better safeguards for the countryside must be imposed, and warns that the high-speed trains of HS2 must run slower than the 225mph planned if the £43bn rail scheme is to be built without excessive damage to the environment.

The Guardian

They propagate selectively in tumor tissue and destroy it without causing excessive damage to normal non-cancerous tissues.

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences

To prevent excessive damage, it is therefore important to understand at which operational conditions wheel damage becomes unacceptable.

International Journal of Fatigue

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

States should try to curb excessive damages in medical lawsuits, as California has done.

The Economist

The justices determined punitive damages are indeed allowed under the federal law, but they were split as to whether the maritime law allows for excessive damages claims.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the extent of damage, consider using "excessive damage" to emphasize that the harm caused is beyond acceptable or expected levels. For example, "The flood caused "excessive damage" to the town's infrastructure."

Common error

While "excessive damage" is acceptable in most contexts, in highly formal or scientific writing, consider more precise language. Instead of stating "the experiment led to "excessive damage"", quantify the damage or specify the type of damage for greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive damage" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "excessive" modifies the noun "damage". Ludwig AI confirms its usability, highlighting its role in describing damage beyond expected levels. Examples show it used in both general and specific contexts to emphasize the severity of harm.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive damage" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term to describe harm or destruction that goes beyond what is considered normal or acceptable. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to emphasize the severity of the damage. Analysis of usage contexts reveals its prevalence in scientific and news reporting. For situations where precision is paramount, especially in formal writing, consider quantifying the damage or specifying its nature. Alternatives like "extensive damage" or "significant damage" can also be employed, depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue damage

Replaces "excessive" with "undue", implying the damage is unwarranted or inappropriate.

inordinate damage

Substitutes "excessive" with "inordinate", suggesting the damage is beyond what is reasonable or expected.

extensive damage

Focuses on the broad scope or scale of the damage rather than its excessiveness.

substantial damage

Highlights the significant amount or degree of damage incurred.

considerable damage

Emphasizes the noteworthy extent or impact of the damage.

significant damage

Indicates the damage is important or consequential in its effects.

major damage

Highlights the seriousness or severity of the damage.

severe damage

Emphasizes the intensity or harshness of the damage.

unnecessary damage

Shifts the focus to the avoidability of the damage, implying it could have been prevented.

gratuitous damage

Suggests the damage was uncalled for or without legitimate cause.

FAQs

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

You can use "excessive damage" to describe situations where the harm or destruction is beyond what is considered normal or acceptable. For example, "The earthquake caused "extensive damage" and the ensuing fires resulted in "excessive damage" to the city center."

What are some alternatives to saying "excessive damage"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "undue damage", "significant damage", or "extensive damage".

Is it better to say "extensive damage" or "excessive damage"?

"Extensive damage" emphasizes the broad reach or scope of the damage, while "excessive damage" highlights that the amount of damage is beyond what is considered reasonable or acceptable. The best choice depends on which aspect you want to emphasize.

What kind of situations typically involve "excessive damage"?

"Excessive damage" is often used to describe the aftermath of natural disasters, accidents, or negligence where the resulting harm is disproportionately large. For example, "The company was held liable for the "unnecessary damage" and subsequent "excessive damage" caused by its oil spill."