excessively narrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively narrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is overly limited in scope, perspective, or physical dimensions. Example: "The study's focus was excessively narrow, failing to consider broader implications of the findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The optimism of many political scientists regarding the durability of political pluralism is grounded in an excessively narrow understanding of how economic resources generate political influence.

Stanford University

More often, they're engaged in pursuits that seem excessively narrow and clinical -- pitch variance among Central African xylophones or Connecticut River Valley fife-and-drum history.

The New York Times - Arts

In a discussion based on a paper from Mona Siddiqui at a conference last year at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco, the point was made by one or two Muslim scholars that an excessively narrow understanding sharia as simply codified rules can have the effect of actually undermining the universal claims of the Qur'an.

The Guardian

We have already noted that his picture of scientific practice is excessively narrow.

SEP

This Bill Gardner essay about checklist burden, and how well-intentioned but excessively narrow metric-based thinking can lead to unintended, suboptimal outcomes.

Forbes

Many of the 850 ETFs now vying for your attention suffer from one or more of the same cardinal sins seen in other Wall Street products: an excessively narrow focus, high leverage, misleading packaging and tax inefficiency.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Their "sphere placement" decisions can be arbitrary, automatic, inflected with fear, or excessively narrow-minded.

Huffington Post

Examples of inappropriate shoes include those that are excessively worn or are too small for the person's feet (too narrow, too short, toe box too low), resulting in rubbing, erythema, blister, or callus.

Diabetes Care

If the signal is excessively noisy, or the frequency range is too narrow, or there are instabilities during long tests, a different oscillator should be employed.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

He wrote on his website that the city should narrow "excessively wide streets that encourage reckless passing and speeding" and widen sidewalks and medians to make streets easier to cross.

The New York Times

So not excessively excessive.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessively narrow", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being limited and why this limitation is problematic. Providing specific examples can strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "excessively narrow" without clearly defining what is being limited. Vague statements can weaken your argument. Always clarify the scope that is being limited to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively narrow" primarily functions as a modifier, specifically an adverb-adjective combination. It describes a noun, indicating that it possesses a quality of being limited or restricted to an extreme or unreasonable degree. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessively narrow" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is limited in scope or perspective to an undesirable degree. As per Ludwig AI, it is suitable for formal writing across multiple fields like News, Academia, and Science. Though less frequent than some synonyms, the phrase is effective when precision is required to convey a critical assessment of limitations. Remember to clearly define the subject and the reason for its limitation when utilizing this phrase for greater impact and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively restricted

Direct synonym, emphasizing the act of restricting to an extreme degree.

unduly restrictive

Emphasizes the inappropriateness or unjustifiability of the restriction.

overly limited

Highlights the extent of the limitation, suggesting it exceeds what is reasonable.

unduly limited

Similar to 'overly limited' but with a stronger implication of unfairness.

too confined

Suggests a restriction of movement or space, either physically or metaphorically.

overly circumscribed

Implies that the boundaries are too tightly drawn, limiting freedom or scope.

unduly focused

Indicates that the attention or scope is concentrated on too small an area.

overly focused

Indicates a focus that is too intense or limited in scope.

narrowly defined

Highlights the precision and limitation of the definition.

unduly circumscribed

Mirrors 'overly circumscribed' with the added nuance of unfairness or lack of justification.

FAQs

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

You can use "excessively narrow" to describe a range of things such as a focus, definition, or understanding. For example: "The study's focus was excessively narrow, failing to consider broader implications of the findings."

What are some alternatives to "excessively narrow"?

Some alternatives to "excessively narrow" include "unduly restrictive", "overly limited", or "too confined", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "excessively narrow" or "unduly narrow"?

Both "excessively narrow" and "unduly narrow" are correct, but "unduly narrow" often implies a sense of unfairness or that the limitation is not justified, while "excessively narrow" simply emphasizes the extent of the limitation.

What's the difference between "excessively narrow" and "narrowly defined"?

"Excessively narrow" suggests that something is too limited in scope or perspective. "Narrowly defined" /s/narrowly+defined, on the other hand, means that something has a precise and limited definition, which may or may not be problematic.