excessive efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessive efforts" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means efforts that are more than necessary or appropriate. You can use it in various contexts, such as describing someone's actions or behaviors, discussing a situation, or giving advice. Here are two examples: 1. Despite her excessive efforts to please her boss, she was still not given a promotion. 2. It is important to set boundaries and avoid making excessive efforts to please others, as it can lead to burnout and resentment.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Mr. Ijichi denied that excessive efforts to cut costs were behind the recent recalls, a criticism leveled by many analysts.

The New York Times

THE great French chef Paul Bocuse, dismissing what he saw as young chefs' excessive efforts to be creative, once told me there were already "300 ways to cook carrots, so we don't need more".

The New York Times - Food

The derived expression is suitable to be used in practice for hand calculation and avoids excessive efforts required to perform numerical analysis using finite element or finite strip methods.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

A relevant example which was observed several times is the experience of excessive efforts for maintenance and repair of specific plant equipment, especially those with moving parts (e.g., engines, stirring units).

Energy, Sustainability and Society

The traditional criterion refers to a limited number of weekly evacuations, although patients mostly complain of symptoms associated with difficult stool passage, such as evacuation of hard or lumpy stools or the need of excessive efforts and/or manipulation during defecation [ 2].

BMC Gastroenterology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Fatigue is often experienced as a result of excessive effort expended in managing the distressing fear.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unfortunately this approach requires an excessive effort; therefore, it is rarely pursued by the designer.

Acta Astronautica

Also, shifting gears in some 2009-12 Expeditions, F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigators may require excessive effort in cold weather.

The New York Times

Muscle fatigue would occur when the intended physical activity can no longer be continued or is perceived as involving excessive effort and discomfort.

Neuromuscular Disorders

Senator Robert C. Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who stands constant guard over Congressional prerogatives, chided his colleagues today for avoiding debate on serious issues in what he called an excessive effort to seem united after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The New York Times

Any excessive effort to bring it into focus will not be successful and continuing to make that effort can cause a misalignment in the tension of the rectus muscles.

Medical Hypotheses

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where resources are being overused, consider using "excessive efforts" to highlight the inefficiency and potential for better resource allocation.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive efforts" when simply describing hard work or dedication. The phrase carries a connotation of being unnecessary or disproportionate, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive efforts" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "excessive" modifies the noun "efforts". It describes the degree or intensity of the efforts being exerted. As shown by Ludwig, it is used to describe situations where more efforts than expected are put into an event.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive efforts" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered phrase used to describe situations where the amount of effort expended is considered disproportionate or unnecessary. Ludwig AI indicates that it is suitable for describing actions and behaviors. While "excessive efforts" is not a particularly common phrase, appearing rarely in the Ludwig corpus, it is found in contexts such as science, news, and encyclopedias. When writing, ensure you use "excessive efforts" when the efforts are truly more than what is needed or appropriate; consider using alternatives such as "undue efforts" or "unnecessary efforts" if they better fit your intended meaning. This phrase should not be used simply to describe hard work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue efforts

This alternative emphasizes that the efforts are unwarranted or inappropriate in the given situation.

unnecessary efforts

This phrase directly points out that the efforts were not required or needed.

exaggerated efforts

This highlights that the level of effort was disproportionate to the task or goal.

overzealous attempts

This alternative suggests that the attempts were made with excessive enthusiasm and eagerness.

disproportionate measures

This phrase indicates that the actions taken were not appropriately balanced or scaled to the situation.

superfluous endeavors

This more formal alternative suggests that the endeavors were redundant or unnecessary.

extreme exertions

This phrase emphasizes the high degree of energy and effort expended.

inordinate strivings

This alternative suggests that the efforts were beyond what is normal or reasonable.

needless exertion

Focuses on the pointlessness of the expended energy.

wasted energy

This alternative conveys the idea that the efforts yielded no positive results or were misdirected.

FAQs

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

You can use "excessive efforts" to describe situations where more effort is being put into something than is necessary. For example: "Despite their "excessive efforts", the project still failed to meet its goals."

What are some alternatives to "excessive efforts"?

Some alternatives to "excessive efforts" include "undue efforts", "unnecessary efforts", or "exaggerated efforts". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What does "excessive efforts" imply?

"Excessive efforts" suggests that the amount of work or energy expended was not justified by the task or goal, implying a potential waste of resources or misdirection of energy.

Is "excessive effort" the same as "hard work"?

No, "excessive effort" implies that the effort is disproportionate or unnecessary, whereas "hard work" simply means putting in a lot of effort, without necessarily implying that it's too much or misplaced.