is not efficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'is not efficient' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this expression to indicate that something is not achieving desirable results or is not done in an effective manner. For example: "This method of data collection is not efficient, so we should look for alternative solutions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But that is not efficient.

The Economist

... .. which is not efficient.

Yale University

But it is not efficient.

The New York Times

"The process is not efficient," he said.

The New York Times

"This machine is not efficient," he said.

The New York Times

But their algorithm is not efficient in practice.

Information Processing Letters

"But we came to the conclusion that running a university in three towns is not efficient.

The New York Times

"Resource-wise, it is not efficient for us to try to replicate this".

The New York Times

"Barclays is not efficient," he said, pointing out that it has 375 management committees.

The Guardian - Business

It is true that the capital justice system is not efficient.

The New York Times

Redundancy is not efficient, but it does help you solve a wide range of unexpected problems.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing inefficiency, be specific about which resources (time, money, effort) are being wasted to provide clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "is not efficient" in conjunction with other words that already imply inefficiency, such as "is not efficiently effective", aim for concise phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not efficient" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject's state of lacking efficiency. It's used to attribute a quality of ineffectiveness to a noun or concept, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

31%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not efficient" is a common and versatile way to express that something lacks efficiency, whether it's a process, method, or system. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, especially in science, news media, and formal business settings. While generally neutral in register, it's important to be specific about what makes something inefficient to provide clarity and impact. Consider alternative phrases such as "is ineffective" or "is unproductive" to add nuance, and avoid overuse in redundant phrases. Remember that this phrase serves to evaluate and critique, suggesting a need for improvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is ineffective

Focuses on the lack of desired results.

is unproductive

Emphasizes the lack of output or progress.

is wasteful

Highlights the unnecessary consumption of resources.

is not streamlined

Suggests a lack of optimization in a process.

is cumbersome

Implies the process is slow and difficult to manage.

is time-consuming

Highlights the length of time required.

is resource-intensive

Focuses on the high amount of resources needed.

is suboptimal

Indicates that the performance is below the best possible level.

is uneconomical

Stresses the financial aspect of inefficiency.

is impractical

Suggests the approach is not suitable for real-world application.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "is not efficient" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases like "is ineffective", "is unproductive", or "is suboptimal" to convey a similar meaning with a more formal tone. These alternatives often suit professional or academic contexts.

What are some common contexts where "is not efficient" is used?

This phrase commonly appears in discussions related to processes, systems, and resource allocation, often in business, science, and technology contexts to critique or suggest improvements.

What's the difference between "is not efficient" and "is not effective"?

"Is not efficient" implies a waste of resources (time, energy, money) while still achieving a result, whereas "is not effective" suggests a failure to produce the intended result, regardless of resource use. They are similar, but the focus differs.

When should I use "is not streamlined" instead of "is not efficient"?

Use "is not streamlined" when referring to a process or system that lacks optimization and involves unnecessary steps or complexities. "Is not efficient" is a more general term for resource wastage.