gratuitous amount

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gratuitous amount" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an excessive or unnecessary quantity of something, often in a negative context. Example: "The report included a gratuitous amount of detail that was not relevant to the main argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The exploration and planet-shaping functions of this phase are enjoyable, but they are largely obscured by a gratuitous amount of low-level tasks like warding off pirate invasions and manually moving trade goods from one system to another, over and over.

The New York Times - Arts

And as with every Apple product, expect a gratuitous amount of leaks and micro-analysis of every move.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Is it showing gratuitous amounts of skin?

Huffington Post

SIgn up for the best of VICE, delivered to your inbox daily.

Vice

We recently toured Europe extensively and we had a totally great time we consumed gratuitous amounts of whiskey and we played a sold out show every night.

Vice

It's not that The Walking Dead isn't scary or doesn't contain gratuitous amounts of gore but, where other horror projects opt for camp, The Walking Dead grounds itself in reality".

Wikipedia

With the look of a graphic novel, an elaborate and involving story and a fair amount of gratuitous sexual titillation, Fear Effect 2 is utterly fascinating.

The New York Times - Tech

It ends – after a remarkable amount of gratuitous nudity – with a zombie plague that destroys London.

BBC

The issue I have with so many movies today is that there is an incredible amount of gratuitous violence, gore, horrendous behavior, and just plain old nasty stuff.

Huffington Post

It began even before the festivities took off in November last year with what's amounted to gratuitous tittle-tattle in parts of the press about the nature of Britten's sexuality and how this would inevitably damage his reputation and popularity.

Huffington Post

In what amounts to a gratuitous insult to a man he once appointed as an editor, Murdoch tweeted: "Piers Morgan seems unemployed after failing to attract any audience in US.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "gratuitous amount" when you want to emphasize that something is not only excessive but also unnecessary or uncalled for. It often carries a negative connotation.

Common error

While acceptable, "gratuitous amount" can sometimes sound overly critical in formal contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "excessive quantity" or "unnecessary amount" for a less judgmental tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gratuitous amount" functions as a noun phrase, where "gratuitous" is an adjective modifying the noun "amount". Ludwig AI confirms its usage to describe an excessive or unnecessary quantity of something, often in a negative context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gratuitous amount" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe an excessive and unnecessary quantity. While Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, its frequency is rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the slightly critical tone of the phrase and opt for neutral alternatives like "excessive quantity" in formal settings where criticism isn't the goal. The phrase serves to communicate disapproval of excessiveness, emphasizing that something is not only abundant but also uncalled for.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary quantity

Focuses on the lack of need for the quantity, implying redundancy.

excessive quantity

Highlights the surplus nature of the quantity, suggesting it goes beyond what's reasonable.

undue amount

Emphasizes the inappropriateness or unjustifiability of the quantity.

superfluous quantity

Indicates that the quantity is beyond what is required or sufficient, and therefore unnecessary.

needless quantity

Directly states that the quantity is not needed.

gratuitous extent

Shifts the focus from the quantity to the degree or scope, maintaining the sense of unnecessariness.

excessive degree

Focuses on the measure or intensity being beyond what is necessary or acceptable.

unwarranted quantity

Suggests that the amount is not justified or deserved.

inordinate quantity

Implies the amount is unusually large or excessive.

unjustified amount

Highlights the lack of a valid reason for the quantity.

FAQs

What does "gratuitous amount" mean?

The phrase "gratuitous amount" refers to a quantity of something that is excessive, unnecessary, and often unwelcome. It implies that the amount is more than what is needed or justified.

How can I use "gratuitous amount" in a sentence?

You can use "gratuitous amount" to describe something that is present in an unnecessary or excessive quantity. For example: "The report included a "gratuitous amount" of detail that was not relevant to the main argument."

What are some alternatives to "gratuitous amount"?

Alternatives to "gratuitous amount" include "excessive quantity", "unnecessary amount", or "superfluous quantity". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "gratuitous amount" or "excessive amount"?

Both "gratuitous amount" and "excessive amount" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Excessive amount" simply means that there is too much of something, while "gratuitous amount" implies that the excess is unnecessary or unwarranted. The choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.