excessively simple

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively simple" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is overly straightforward or lacking in complexity, often implying that it may be too basic for the intended purpose. Example: "The instructions were excessively simple, leaving out crucial details that would have helped the users."

✓ Grammatically correct

Forest Ecosystems

Huffington Post

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Independent

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Use of excessively simple and therefore unrealistic conceptual models in education and management can easily lead to distorted views of how forest ecosystems develop and what kind of structural variation they naturally display.

Forest Ecosystems

In particular, excessively simple and hence misleading models of forest dynamics can lead to seriously biased assessment of targets for forest conservation, restoration and management both at local and landscape scales.

Forest Ecosystems

The belief that markets can take care of themselves and therefore government should not intrude has resulted in the largest intervention in the market by government in history; the result of following excessively simple rules was that the Fed had to take discretionary actions beyond those taken by any central bank in history.

Huffington Post

An excessively simple model may be unable to provide good fit of the data.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Some of the jokes are gross, some of them are urbane, some are madcap, some are deadpan – and the fact that I find them funny may only indicate that I have an excessively rarefied or an excessively simple-minded sense of humour.

Independent

Although aiming for parity with hospitals in industrialized nations on quality standards for infection control is excessively ambitious, simple, practical approaches to implement basic infection control measures developed by WHO can be used (10 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

There is no need to be excessively fancy; a simple email asking for clarification or information is all that is needed.

Huffington Post

The Democrats' argument was simple: Excessively large companies, with the power to squeeze not only consumers but workers and small businesses, are an engine of inequality.

Huffington Post

"So not excessively excessive.

The New York Times

Thurman, expressing his frustration at how little he knew about Hughes's private self, wrote to him once, "You are in the final analysis the most consarned and diabolical creature, to say nothing of being either the most egregiously simple or excessively complex person I know".

The New Yorker

Simple acts like chewing, talking excessively or yawning can make the symptoms worse.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing models or explanations, use "excessively simple" to indicate that crucial elements have been oversimplified, leading to inaccuracies.

Common error

While "excessively simple" is acceptable, consider stronger, more precise terms like "simplistic" or "oversimplified" in formal or academic writing for better impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively simple" functions as a modifier, specifically an adverb (excessively) modifying an adjective (simple). It is used to describe something that is characterized by a level of simplicity that is considered too much, potentially leading to inaccuracy or inadequacy, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excessively simple" is a valid and usable expression in English used to describe something that is oversimplified to a detrimental extent. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a modifier, combining an adverb and an adjective. It is most commonly found in news, science, and encyclopedia contexts. When using this phrase, be aware of potential alternatives like ""simplistic"" or ""oversimplified"", especially in formal writing to achieve a stronger impact. While grammatically correct, it's crucial to ensure it appropriately conveys the intended critique of oversimplification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally simple

Highlights that the simplicity is remarkable.

exceedingly simple

Uses a different adverb to intensify the simplicity.

extremely simple

Emphasizes the high degree of simplicity.

incredibly simple

Replaces "excessively" with "incredibly", emphasizing the degree of simplicity.

highly simple

Another way to express a significant degree of simplicity.

unreasonably simple

Suggests the simplicity is inappropriate or unjustified.

unnecessarily simple

Implies the simplicity is not required or beneficial.

unrealistically simple

Indicates the simplicity is divorced from reality.

very simple

A more common and less emphatic way to express simplicity.

terribly simple

Strongly emphasizes the simplicity, potentially with a negative connotation.

FAQs

How can "excessively simple" be used in a sentence?

"Excessively simple" is typically used to describe something that has been made too basic and lacks necessary detail. For example: "The explanation was "excessively simple", failing to address the complexities of the issue."

What are some alternatives to "excessively simple"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "oversimplified", "simplistic", or "unduly basic".

Is it better to say "excessively simple" or "overly simplistic"?

Both phrases are valid, but "overly simplistic" might be preferred in formal contexts. "Excessively simple" emphasizes the degree of simplicity, while "overly simplistic" suggests a negative judgment about the simplicity.

What does it mean when something is described as "excessively simple"?

It means that something has been simplified to such an extent that it is inadequate or misleading. It often implies that important details have been omitted or ignored. An "excessively simple" explanation might not provide a complete or accurate understanding of a topic.