excessive wait times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive wait times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing delays or prolonged periods of waiting, often in contexts like customer service, transportation, or healthcare. Example: "Due to the high volume of customers, we are experiencing excessive wait times at the service desk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The public's outrage over excessive wait times and rigged recordkeeping at Veterans Affairs hospitals is more than justified.

Huffington Post

cited an eight-page memo from VA officials in August 2010 detailing the ways workers were "gaming" the books to disguise excessive wait times, including keeping a second set of logs.

Los Angeles Times

Shinseki's leadership has come under fire after claims that up to 40 veterans' deaths have been linked to excessive wait times for service at a Phoenix VA facility, where officials may have kept separate record books to hide the problem.

Los Angeles Times

The inquiry into whether a Veterans Affairs facility in Phoenix falsified government records to hide excessive wait times has broadened to include several other veterans centers nationwide, as officials said Thursday that complaints about delays in appointment-making and inadequate treatment date back almost a decade.

Los Angeles Times

Third, excessive wait times can lead to increased costs [ 16].

BMC Health Services Research

More specific pharmacy-related barriers were also mentioned and included excessive wait times, both in the clinic and on the phone; inability to reach someone to resolve prescription problems; problems with ordering and/or delivery services; and dissatisfaction with formulary.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

At a central testing station in Montclair, the system's biggest problem, excessive waiting times, persisted today.

The New York Times

Excessive waiting times are actually a function of scheduling and were common for years before health maintenance organizations and Medicare even existed.

The New York Times

The Education Policy Institute's commission on children's mental health, which I chair, recently published its final report, highlighting that excessive waiting times and treatment thresholds are still commonplace.

The Guardian

Excessive waiting times for elective surgery have been a long-standing concern in many national healthcare systems in the OECD.

Health Economics Review

There were excessive waiting times on Tuesday for patients at the accident and emergency department of the Royal Victoria Hospital, the BBC understands.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of long waits, quantify the "excessive wait times" with specific durations to emphasize the severity. For instance, "Patients experienced excessive wait times, exceeding three months for specialist appointments".

Common error

Avoid using "excessive wait times" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms like "prolonged delays" or "lengthy waiting periods" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive wait times" functions as a noun phrase that describes a situation characterized by unacceptably long periods of waiting. Ludwig confirms this is a correct and usable expression. The word "excessive" modifies "wait times", indicating an amount that exceeds what is considered normal or tolerable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive wait times" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood way to describe unacceptably long waiting periods. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English. While applicable across various contexts, it's frequently used in discussions about healthcare, customer service, and transportation. When using this phrase, consider quantifying the duration to emphasize the severity, and avoid overuse by incorporating synonyms like "prolonged delays". Ludwig's analysis reveals that while the phrase is valid, mindful application ensures clearer and more impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Prolonged waiting periods

Emphasizes the duration of the wait, using more formal language.

Unreasonable delays

Highlights the lack of justification for the wait, implying unfairness.

Extended wait times

Similar to "excessive", but may imply a more acceptable, though still lengthy, duration.

Inordinate waiting

Uses a more formal and less common term to describe the excessive nature of the wait.

Lengthy delays

Focuses on the extended nature of the delay.

Long queues

Specifically refers to waiting in a line, suitable for contexts like stores or events.

Considerable waiting time

Highlights the amount of time spent waiting.

Undue delays

Suggests that the delays are unwarranted or inappropriate.

Tedious waiting

Emphasizes the boring and frustrating nature of the wait.

Extreme waiting

Similar meaning to "excessive", but with a focus on the severity of the wait.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "excessive wait times"?

Alternatives include "prolonged waiting periods", "unreasonable delays", or "lengthy delays", each emphasizing different aspects of the delay.

How can I use "excessive wait times" in a sentence?

You might say, "The hospital's reputation suffered due to "excessive wait times" in the emergency room" or "Customers complained about "excessive wait times" when calling customer service".

Is it better to say "long wait times" or "excessive wait times"?

"Excessive" implies that the wait times are beyond what is considered acceptable or reasonable, while "long" simply indicates a considerable duration. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the unacceptability of the "wait times".

What causes "excessive wait times" in healthcare?

"Excessive wait times" in healthcare can stem from a variety of issues, including understaffing, high patient volume, inefficient scheduling, and lack of resources.