excessive time

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessive time" can be used in written English.
An example sentence could be: "The project took excessive time to complete due to the difficulty of the tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Apart from the excessive time taken over the project, the investigation has simply been too shallow and narrow.

The Guardian

The excessive time it takes to apply for and receive Social Security disability payments is a national scandal.

The New York Times

That was an excessive time, in terms of the costuming and the theatricality - I find it kind of obscene.

The Guardian

He said he had protested earlier in the game about what he felt was the excessive time Yao had spent in the lane.

The New York Times

The lord chief justice has condemned the excessive time it takes to pursue appeals through British and European courts as "unacceptable" and a source of "real fury".

The Guardian

He added that he had been annoyed by his compatriot Trott, who regularly took excessive time to prepare himself for the bowler.

The Guardian - Sport

"I wanted to kill the ref because of that last play," Van Gundy said, referring to the excessive time Terry Porter got for the Heat's final shot.

The New York Times - Sports

The Russians indicated that they had ideas but did not believe excessive time should be expended trying to issue a statement as had been done at past PrepComs.

The Guardian

"We will consider providing guidance to schools to reinforce good practice and to re-emphasise our position that excessive time spent on test preparation would be unacceptable.

The Guardian

Officials say they are especially unhappy with broadcasts that focus on civilian casualties without providing the broader context of the war or give excessive time to the remarks of Osama bin Laden and other terrorists.

The New York Times

Fomo (fear of missing out) may sound like a silly acronym, but it can drive people to spend excessive time staring at social media feeds, anxious that they may miss a social opportunity or be left out.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive time", ensure the context clearly indicates what activity or process is taking longer than is desirable or acceptable. Be specific to enhance clarity.

Common error

While "excessive time" is generally acceptable, consider more precise or formal alternatives like "undue delay" or "inordinate duration" in academic or professional contexts to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive time" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples show its use in describing delays, inefficiencies, and undesirable durations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive time" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI. It primarily functions to express concern or disapproval regarding extended durations, finding frequent application in scientific, news, and business contexts. While broadly acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "undue delay" in academic writing. Remember to clearly specify what activity is consuming the "excessive time" for optimal clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue time

Emphasizes the inappropriateness or unjustifiability of the length of time.

inordinate time

Highlights the exceeding of reasonable limits in duration.

unreasonable time

Focuses on the lack of justification or logic in the amount of time.

protracted duration

Stresses the extended and often tedious nature of the time period.

extended period

Simply indicates a longer-than-usual time frame.

overlong timeframe

Highlights the length of the time period being too much.

lengthy delay

Places importance on the temporal aspect of the term, with a negative implication.

surplus time

Underscores the unnecessary or redundant aspect of the time spent.

gratuitous delay

Suggests the delay was uncalled for and unnecessary.

unwarranted delay

Emphasizes the absence of a legitimate reason for the delay or time extension.

FAQs

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

You can use "excessive time" to describe situations where an activity takes longer than expected or desired. For example: "The project took "excessive time" to complete due to unforeseen complications."

What are some alternatives to "excessive time"?

Alternatives to "excessive time" include phrases like "undue time", "inordinate time", or "unreasonable time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "excessive time" or "too much time"?

Both "excessive time" and "too much time" are acceptable, but "excessive time" tends to be more formal and is often used in professional or academic writing. "Too much time" is generally more common in informal contexts.

Can "excessive time" have positive connotations?

Generally, "excessive time" has negative connotations, implying that the duration is undesirable. It's rarely used in a positive way unless specifically contrasted or recontextualized.