inordinate space

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inordinate space" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an excessive or disproportionate amount of space in various contexts, such as design, architecture, or even abstract concepts. Example: "The new office layout wasted an inordinate space that could have been utilized for additional workstations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Equally, in his discussion of Jews in America he manages to avoid mentioning that half of them marry gentiles.Instead Mr Sachar devotes inordinate space to people who happened to be Jewish but made nothing of it, such as the Communist notables, Leon Trotsky (né Lev Davidovich Bronstein) and Béla Kun.

The Economist

The drama, by contrast, is abstract — and it's why critics who are most indifferent or insensitive to the particulars of the cinema assimilate movies to screenplays and spend inordinate space and energy twiddling details of characters' behavior on the ends of their fingers rather than taking the movie experience, the spirit of the movie, whole.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Bible devotes an inordinate amount of space to the reigns of these two kings who purportedly developed their new capital city in many directions.

The New York Times - Books

She devotes an inordinate amount of space to the views of Sir Bernard Ingham, Thatcher's press secretary, a peripheral figure who offers no worthwhile insights.

The New York Times - Books

The gain in control was of course an immeasurable improvement for the long haul, but for a time the inordinate amount of space that had to be allocated to carry wood or coal seriously inhibited the usefulness of early warships.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As Steven and Hilary Rose wrote in 1973, looking back: "Street theatre and interventions at lectures brought some relief from the boredom of the BA meeting which, while of little significance to scientists, continued to command an inordinate amount of space in newspaper coverage.

The Guardian

Not a lot going on there, though the shifter is given an inordinate amount of space on the console.

TechCrunch

Either that, or we blame the unique way America's near-religious self-mythologizing of itself as a divinely-ordained "exceptional" nation helps to create an inordinate amount of space for toxic demagogues to operate during times of great economic stress or global insecurity.

Huffington Post

The pieces are generally competent, but these artists are granted an inordinate amount of wall space; one gets the sense that Mr. Wayne has run out of ideas.

The New York Times

In one of the most effective sections, set to "I'm Gonna Leave You," a woman in black walks a slow downstage diagonal, as a man behind her, dressed colorfully, swoops and lashes his limbs and generally takes up an inordinate amount of luscious space.

The New York Times - Arts

Of course, part of the dread inspired by these announcements had to do with the knowledge that both would take up an inordinate amount of time and space in the news and in the chatosphere.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inordinate space", ensure the context clearly indicates why the amount of space is excessive or problematic. Provide specific details to illustrate the issue.

Common error

Avoid using "inordinate space" in situations where any large amount of space would be expected. The term is most effective when highlighting a surprising or inappropriate allocation of space.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inordinate space" functions as a descriptive term, modifying a noun to indicate that the amount of space is excessive or disproportionate. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inordinate space" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an amount of space that is excessive or disproportionate. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts such as news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates why the amount of space is problematic and consider alternatives like "excessive space" or "disproportionate space" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessive space

Emphasizes that the amount of space is more than necessary or desirable.

disproportionate space

Highlights the imbalance in the allocation or size of the space.

undue space

Indicates that the space is more than what is reasonable or appropriate.

unwarranted space

Suggests that the space is not justified or deserved.

gratuitous space

Implies that the space is unnecessary and possibly excessive.

superfluous space

Means the space is beyond what is required or useful.

exorbitant space

Conveys that the space is unreasonably high or excessive.

unreasonable space

Highlights that the space is not fair or sensible.

surplus space

Indicates that there is more space than needed.

overabundance of space

Emphasizes a plentiful or excessive amount of space.

FAQs

How can I use "inordinate space" in a sentence?

You can use "inordinate space" to describe situations where there is an excessive or disproportionate amount of space, such as "The new office layout wasted an "inordinate space" that could have been utilized for additional workstations".

What's a good alternative to "inordinate space"?

Alternatives include "excessive space", "disproportionate space", or "undue space", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "inordinate space"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that a particular area or allocation of space is surprisingly or inappropriately large. It suggests that the space is more than what is reasonable or necessary.

Is "inordinate space" formal or informal?

"Inordinate space" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression suitable for academic, professional, and news-related contexts. It's less common in informal conversation.