it wastes time

USAGE SUMMARY

"it wastes time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that takes up unnecessary or unproductive amounts of time. Example sentence: "I don't like to do paperwork - it wastes time that I could be spending on more important tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

It wastes time, creates negative emotions, and hurts your relationships.

Independent

Avoid indulging your own amazement; it wastes time.

The New Yorker

He says it wastes time and disturbs his train of thought.

The New Yorker

Don't let a sense of panic cause you to cast your net too wide — it wastes time on both ends.

The New York Times

It wastes time and detracts from the candidates' ability to address the issues that confront the electorate.

The New York Times

"It wastes time, it takes them off the ward, it wastes money, and if you just had a simple passport that you took with you, stamped off with all your training, it would simplify things and awful lot".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It wasted time and effort bickering over the merits of NATO membership.

The Economist

This has been called "research waste" because it wasted time and resources.

Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery

It wasted time; it wasted money -- no one remembers anything it produced.

Huffington Post

For big companies, though, it is not unbearable: it just wastes time and money.

The Economist

It also wastes time.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating a task or process, consider whether eliminating it would save a significant amount of time without negatively impacting the overall outcome. If so, challenge its necessity.

Common error

Be mindful of indirect activities linked to the primary task. Even if the main action seems efficient, associated tasks like preparation, correction, or follow-up might unexpectedly inflate the total time investment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it wastes time" functions as a statement expressing that a particular action, process, or thing consumes time without providing adequate value or benefit. As indicated by Ludwig, it's commonly used to critique inefficient activities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it wastes time" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express that something is inefficient or unproductive. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is applicable across diverse contexts such as news, general writing, and science, though it appears most frequently in News & Media. When writing, be aware of the subtle time costs associated with tasks and consider if there are more efficient alternatives. Alternatives include phrases like "it's a time sink" or "it's unproductive". When used effectively, it is a phrase that is simple and easy to understand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's a time sink

Emphasizes that something consumes a large amount of time without producing significant results.

it's a poor use of time

Highlights that time could be better spent on other activities.

it's unproductive

Focuses on the lack of valuable output or progress.

it's a futile effort

Suggests that the activity is unlikely to produce any positive results.

it's spinning your wheels

Implies expending effort without making progress.

it's an inefficient process

Highlights the lack of optimization and wasted resources in a procedure.

it's time-consuming without benefit

Directly states that the activity takes a long time but offers no advantages.

it's squandering time

Suggests recklessly wasting valuable time.

it's frittering away time

Implies carelessly wasting time on unimportant things.

it's delaying progress

Highlights that something is slowing or stopping advancements.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it wastes time" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "it is an inefficient use of time", "it is a time-consuming endeavor", or "it detracts from more productive activities".

What's a simple way to say "it wastes time"?

You could say "it's a time sink" or "it's unproductive" for a shorter alternative.

When is it appropriate to use "it wastes time"?

Use "it wastes time" when you want to point out that something is not the best use of resources and prevents more valuable activities from being done.

What's the difference between "it wastes time" and "it saves time"?

"It wastes time" indicates inefficiency, while "it saves time" suggests efficiency and the ability to accomplish tasks more quickly.