far too sweet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'far too sweet' is correct and fully usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is overly sweet or too sweet. For example, "The cake tasted far too sweet and I couldn't even finish it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

We found it far too sweet.

The New York Times - Food

Klam isn't built for polemic; she seems far too sweet.

The New York Times - Books

It tastes like lemon but it's far too sweet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My only complaint: the combination of fig pur?and sherry demi-glaze was far too sweet.

The New York Times

The icing is far too sweet for the tiny cake, and I just could not finish it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But as an aperitif it's far too sweet, for my palate at least.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

A startlingly delicious take on the ubiquitous cupcake is the CurlyCake, made by English's daughter, Isabelle, which, despite the treacly name, is far from being too sweet.

The New Yorker

While it is certainly easy to come up with enjoyable bottles like the six below, far too many are simply sweet and fruity with little complexity, though their prices can rival those of better wines from California and Burgundy.

The New York Times - Food

As a Viejo Elementary School volunteer in her daughter's classroom, Serratos noticed children eating sweets on far too many occasions.

Los Angeles Times

The difficulty seems to have struck Kim Cattrall in the far too slow-moving early scene of Sweet Bird of Youth.

The Guardian

We're a sweet-toothed nation, eating far too much sugar for our own good.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "far too sweet" to describe food, consider specifying what other flavors are being masked by the excessive sweetness.

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, be mindful that "far too sweet" can sound informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "excessively sweet" or "unpleasantly sweet" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far too sweet" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by describing its excessive sweetness. It expresses a subjective assessment of the level of sweetness, often implying a negative connotation. This aligns with Ludwig's finding that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Lifestyle

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far too sweet" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjectival phrase to describe something with an excessive level of sweetness. As Ludwig confirms, it is a valid expression. While widely applicable, it leans toward a neutral to informal register. When using "far too sweet", consider the context and audience to ensure it aligns with the desired tone. In more formal situations, alternatives such as "excessively sweet" or "unpleasantly sweet" may be preferable. Keep in mind that describing what other aspects are overshadowed by the sweetness enhances clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpleasantly sweet

Directly states that the sweetness is not enjoyable.

excessively sugary

Focuses specifically on the sugar content being too high.

overpoweringly sweet

Indicates that the sweetness is so strong that it dominates other flavors.

cloyingly sweet

Implies that the sweetness is overwhelming and unpleasant, sticking to the palate.

over-sweetened

Focuses on the action of adding too much sugar.

overly saccharine

Uses a more formal word for sweetness, suggesting an unpleasant level of sentimentality or sweetness.

sickeningly sweet

Conveys a strong feeling of disgust or aversion due to the intense sweetness.

too sugary for my liking

Personalizes the assessment of sweetness, indicating a subjective preference.

intensely sweet

Highlights the high degree of sweetness without necessarily implying a negative connotation.

aggressively sweet

Uses a more forceful term to describe the sweetness level.

FAQs

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

You can use "far too sweet" to describe something that has an excessive amount of sugar or sweetness, such as "The dessert was "far too sweet" for me to enjoy".

What's a more formal way to say "far too sweet"?

For more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "excessively sugary", "overly saccharine", or "unpleasantly sweet" instead of "far too sweet".

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

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase is commonly used to express that something has an excessive level of sweetness.

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

"Far too sweet" is an intensifier of "too sweet". It emphasizes that something is not just sweet, but excessively so. The addition of "far" amplifies the degree of sweetness.