far too short

USAGE SUMMARY

"far too short" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that is much shorter than it should be or than desired. Example: "The article I wrote for the magazine was far too short to fully explain my research findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Life is far too short.

The New York Times

JR Life's far too short.

The Guardian - Books

— David Kirkpatrick Great interview, but far too short.

The New York Times

He says: "Life is far too short too be moody.

Independent

Extension ladders were far too short to reach them.

The New York Times

To pretend otherwise is to sell technology far too short.

The Economist

And six seconds seemed far too short for anything much.

The Guardian - Money

The four-month timetable for implementation is far too short.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

First of all, any talk about the Facebook news feed appearing in virtual form is far too short-sighted.

TechCrunch

First of all, any talk about the Facebook news feed appearing in virtual form is far too short-sighted.

TechCrunch

He puts that down to always taking a long-term view on his investments, arguing that most fund managers take a far too short-term approach.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "far too short" to describe time, consider adding context about the consequences. For instance, "The meeting was "far too short" to address all the concerns effectively."

Common error

While "far too short" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. In formal contexts, vary your language with alternatives like "insufficiently brief" or "unduly short" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "far too short" is as an adverbial phrase modifying an adjective. It intensifies the adjective "short", indicating a significant degree of deficiency in length or duration. Ludwig's examples show how it functions in various contexts, reinforcing its adverbial role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far too short" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express that something is significantly lacking in length or duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely used across different contexts, from News & Media to Academia and Science. While versatile, remember to consider the specific context and potentially use more formal alternatives like "excessively short" in certain settings. When writing, be mindful of the phrase's impact; using "far too short" can effectively convey a sense of urgency, disappointment, or criticism regarding limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much too short

Replaces "far" with "much", slightly altering the emphasis but maintaining the core meaning.

way too short

Substitutes "far" with "way", giving it a more informal tone.

excessively short

Replaces "far too" with "excessively", adding a more formal and intense degree of shortness.

inordinately short

Uses "inordinately" instead of "far too", suggesting the shortness is beyond what is reasonable or expected, and sounds more formal.

unduly short

Similar to 'inordinately short', implying the shortness is inappropriate or unwarranted.

regrettably brief

Replaces 'far too short' indicating brevity which causes regret. More formal and emphasizes the negative consequence of the shortness.

lamentably short

Similar to 'regrettably brief', this emphasizes the disappointment caused by the lack of length or duration.

noticeably short

Emphasizes that the shortness is easily observed or apparent.

markedly short

Indicates the shortness is distinct and easily noticeable.

surprisingly short

Suggests that the shortness was unexpected.

FAQs

How can I use "far too short" in a sentence?

Use "far too short" to describe something lacking in length or duration. For example, "The vacation was "far too short" to fully relax."

What are some alternatives to using "far too short"?

You can use phrases like "much too short", "way too short", or "excessively short" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "far too short"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that something is shorter than desired or expected.

What's the difference between "far too short" and "too short"?

"Far too short" emphasizes the degree of shortness more strongly than simply saying "too short". It implies a significant deficiency.