excessively thorough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively thorough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level of thoroughness that goes beyond what is necessary or reasonable. Example: "The report was excessively thorough, covering every minute detail that was not relevant to the main findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We mention this as technical issue in the text, because an excessively thorough purification of FG inclusion bodies by too many centrifugation steps may lead to a complete loss of material, in particular for FG domains with a higher critical/ saturation concentration.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"So not excessively excessive.

The New York Times

A very thorough study (of 21 people) in Sweden found that people who use their cell phones excessively can be prone to sleep problems, fatigue, and stress, which can lead to depression and concentration issues.

TechCrunch

Everyone excessively tidy, excessively generous.

The New Yorker

Silly, excessively sober me.

The New York Times - Food

"I was excessively disciplined.

The New York Times - Magazine

Excessively long subtitles.

The Economist

John Major was excessively diabolical.

The Economist

"He was excessively lustful.

The New York Times - Books

"Like" is "used excessively".

The Guardian - Opinion

Being excessively nervous is.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessively thorough", ensure the context warrants the emphasis on the excessive nature of the thoroughness. Overuse can weaken your writing; reserve it for situations where the level of detail truly exceeds expectations or necessity.

Common error

While "excessively thorough" often implies unnecessary detail, it can sometimes indicate diligence in situations where oversight could have severe consequences. Always consider if a high degree of detail is contextually appropriate before framing it negatively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively thorough" functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective. It describes a quality taken to an extreme, suggesting that something is more detailed or complete than necessary. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessively thorough" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that is more detailed than necessary. As Ludwig confirms, it is usable in written English, though relatively rare in occurrence. The phrase appears in contexts ranging from science to news and media, expressing a judgment about the degree of detail involved. Consider alternatives like "overly meticulous" or "needlessly detailed", depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively detailed

Directly mirrors the structure of the original phrase, focusing on the detail aspect.

unnecessarily thorough

Directly states that the level of thoroughness is not needed.

too comprehensive

A more straightforward way of saying something is excessively thorough.

overly meticulous

Indicates a level of detail that might be considered unnecessary or excessive.

unduly comprehensive

Suggests a level of completeness that is perhaps not warranted.

needlessly detailed

Emphasizes that the level of detail is more than what is required.

overly exhaustive

Highlights the extreme completeness of something, potentially to an unnecessary degree.

inordinately painstaking

Stresses the great care and effort taken, perhaps to an excessive extent.

hyper-detailed

Modern and concise way of conveying excessive detail.

over-elaborate

Implies that something has been made more complex than necessary.

FAQs

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

You can use "excessively thorough" to describe something that has been done with more detail than necessary. For instance, "The investigation was "excessively thorough", covering every aspect of the incident."

What's a good alternative to "excessively thorough"?

Alternatives include "overly meticulous", "unduly comprehensive", or "needlessly detailed". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "thorough" and "excessively thorough"?

"Thorough" means complete and detailed. "Excessively thorough" implies a level of detail that is beyond what is necessary or useful, potentially becoming cumbersome or inefficient.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "excessively thorough"?

Use "excessively thorough" when you want to emphasize that something has been examined or completed with a level of detail that is beyond what is required or expected, often suggesting that it is unnecessary or even detrimental.