excessive postage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive postage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a postage fee that is considered too high or unreasonable. Example: "I was shocked to find that the excessive postage for sending the package was more than the item itself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It has excessive postage.

The New York Times

The poster warns that excessive postage, no return address, a foreign postmark, misspelled words, a strange odor, and protruding wires may be signs of a bomb.

The New Yorker

The packages had many of the hallmarks of suspicious mail, including large block lettering and excessive postage aimed at making it harder to track, said Matthew Doherty, who formerly led the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center.

The Washington Post

He said that, in addition, people should be particularly alert when they see excessive postage, uneven lettering or stains on the outside of an envelope because those might be signs that it contains a substance other than paper.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

When identifying a suspicious package look for odd marking, too much postage, no return address, heaviness, excessive tape or string, visible wires, oily or discolored wrappings, strange odors and powdery substances.

University of California, Berkeley

He therefore suggested a lower levy on letters, since high taxes reduced the volume of mail and thus diminished the revenue derived therefrom; a uniform postage rate irrespective of distance, since excessive numbers of rates for letters traveling different distances greatly increased accounting expenses; and that all mail should be prepaid.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Postage stamp.

The Telegraph

Used postage?

The Guardian - Books

*Online postage.

The New York Times

Was the postage right?

The New York Times

Postage is reasonable.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing suspicious mail, use "excessive postage" as one indicator alongside other signs like no return address or strange odors.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive postage" to describe general overspending or budget issues. It should specifically refer to the cost of mailing items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive postage" functions as a descriptor, modifying the noun "postage" with the adjective "excessive". It indicates that the amount of postage used is considered too much or unreasonable. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive postage" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, typically employed to describe an amount of postage considered unreasonably high. Ludwig AI indicates its common usage in the context of suspicious mail, where it's viewed as a potential indicator of malicious intent. Analysis of various sources shows that while the phrase isn't exceedingly common, it appears mainly in News & Media and Academia, with a neutral register. Alternative expressions include "exorbitant postage fees" or "overpriced postage". When using the expression, ensure it specifically refers to mailing costs and not general overspending.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overpriced postage

Replaces "excessive" with "overpriced", a direct synonym.

expensive postage

Substitutes "excessive" with "expensive", a common synonym.

exorbitant postage fees

Replaces "excessive" with "exorbitant" and clarifies that it refers to fees.

costly postage

Replaces "excessive" with "costly" for brevity.

unreasonable postage costs

Substitutes "excessive" with "unreasonable" and replaces "postage" with costs.

high postage rates

Uses "high" as a simpler alternative to "excessive" and uses rates instead of postage.

inflated shipping charges

Uses "inflated" instead of "excessive" and "shipping charges" to denote the postage.

exaggerated postage costs

Uses "exaggerated" instead of "excessive" to imply that the cost is beyond what is reasonable.

prohibitive mailing fees

Replaces "excessive" with "prohibitive" and "postage" with mailing fees, emphasizing the deterrent effect of the cost.

premium postal rates

Implies the postage is higher than standard due to extra benefits, services or increased cost.

FAQs

What does "excessive postage" mean in the context of suspicious packages?

In the context of suspicious packages, "excessive postage" may indicate an attempt to make the package harder to track, as mentioned in sources like The Washington Post.

When is it appropriate to use the term "excessive postage"?

It is appropriate to use "excessive postage" when you want to indicate that the amount of postage on a letter or package is unusually or unreasonably high.

What are some signs of a suspicious package besides "excessive postage"?

Besides "excessive postage", other signs of a suspicious package include no return address, misspelled words, a strange odor, protruding wires, or oily stains. University of California, Berkeley provides a list of these indicators.

What can I say instead of "excessive postage"?

You can use alternatives like "exorbitant postage fees", "overpriced postage", or "high postage rates" depending on the context.