excessively lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessively lengthy" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is overly long, usually due to an abundance of unnecessary details. For example, "The essay was excessively lengthy and contained too many unnecessary examples."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

He pointed in particular to "excessively lengthy judicial proceedings".

The New York Times

We wrote the provision because when high-risk investing blows up, it should vaporise only the funds of investors, not the credit essential for a strong economy.However, while your general critique of the Volcker rule is misplaced, I share your criticism that the proposed regulations for implementing it are excessively lengthy and confusing.

The Economist

Moreover, we used only unilateral stimulation for recording to avoid an excessively lengthy procedure and to enhance patients' comfort.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Now that we have all read the (in my view) excessively lengthy Mitchell Report, I would like to see the reaction leave the realm of hysteria and sensationalism, and settle into a much-needed deliberation and thoughtful discussion that just might help us go beyond the current state of useless anger and recriminations and lead us to some plausible course of action.

Huffington Post

Our findings show that excessively lengthy treatments are mainly associated with patient management modalities.

BMC Public Health

Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of excessively lengthy therapy.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Too lengthy?

The New York Times

McDowell and Baker tried to qualify away their support in their brief, five-paragraph, one-page statement, calling the merger conditions generally "excessively coercive and lengthy," among other adjectives.

Huffington Post

So not excessively excessive.

BBC

Hiking or rugged terrain snowshoes are a step up in durability and traction, good for occasional off-trail hikes but not lengthy or excessively steep off-trail expeditions.

WikiHow

The article is quite lengthy and detailed (in my opinion, excessively), and the principal message easily could be lost on the reader.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessively lengthy", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the excessive length is hindering or negatively impacting. For instance, specify if an "excessively lengthy" report led to missed deadlines or confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "excessively lengthy" as a generic criticism. Instead of simply stating that something is "excessively lengthy", specify why its length is problematic. For example, instead of "The contract was excessively lengthy", say "The contract was excessively lengthy, making it difficult for stakeholders to quickly identify key obligations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively lengthy" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it possesses a length that is beyond what is considered necessary or desirable. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessively lengthy" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that signifies something is longer than necessary, often implying a negative impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct for use in written English. Its usage spans across scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When using "excessively lengthy", be specific about why the length is problematic to enhance clarity and avoid generic criticism. Alternatives include "overly lengthy" and "unnecessarily lengthy", offering similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. The phrase carries a neutral to formal tone and is most effective when used to express a clear and justified concern about undue length.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibitively lengthy

Emphasizes that the length is so extreme it acts as a deterrent.

overly lengthy

A more straightforward synonym, simply stating something is too long.

unnecessarily lengthy

Highlights the lack of justification for the extended length.

inordinately lengthy

Indicates the length is excessive and beyond what is considered normal or reasonable.

exceedingly lengthy

Similar to "overly lengthy", but with a slightly more formal tone.

unduly prolonged

Focuses on the extension of time rather than physical length, suggesting an unnecessary continuation.

needlessly extended

Similar to "unnecessarily lengthy", emphasizing the lack of need for the extension.

gratuitously long

Implies the length serves no purpose and is excessive to the point of being unwarranted.

superfluously extended

Highlights the presence of length that is beyond what is required or useful.

unwarrantedly long

Suggests the length is not justified or deserved based on the circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "excessively lengthy" in a sentence?

You can use "excessively lengthy" to describe something that is longer than necessary or desirable. For example: "The judicial proceedings were "excessively lengthy", causing undue stress to the defendant."

What are some alternatives to "excessively lengthy"?

Alternatives to "excessively lengthy" include "overly lengthy", "unnecessarily lengthy", or "prohibitively lengthy" depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "excessively lengthy"?

Use "excessively lengthy" when you want to emphasize that the length of something is not only long but also beyond what is reasonable or necessary, causing a negative impact. For example when a document is "excessively lengthy", it makes it hard to understand and wastes resources.

What's the difference between "excessively lengthy" and "very lengthy"?

"Very lengthy" simply indicates something is quite long. "Excessively lengthy", on the other hand, implies that the length is problematic and goes beyond what is appropriate or useful. It carries a more negative connotation.