more overly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more overly" is not correct and is not usable in written English.
It seems to be a conflation of "more" and "overly," which are not typically used together in this way. Example: "The project was more overly complicated than we initially thought."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

You could not have got a more overly qualified prosecuting team".

The Guardian

Our varied chat also covers acting (she wants to do more), overly sexy female artists à la twerkaholic Miley ("Everybody has to learn, it's trial and error.

Independent

National Football League coaches tend to be more overly dramatic than they need to be, so it is sometimes difficult to take what they say seriously.

The New York Times - Sports

Other couples in these stories have more overly contentious relationships, their disputes heightened by class snobberies and clashing attitudes toward assimilation.

The New York Times - Books

Emma: Yeah... no more overly bearded Charlie.

Huffington Post

Then based upon the p-values obtained from SAM[33] and a visual inspection of genes for genes that were more overly expressed than the others, a top group of 58 genes was chosen to be further validated for their influence on lifespan[32].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It is irresponsible to hide behind management's more than overly optimistic financial forecasts.

The New York Times

The shortfalls in California may turn out to be more about overly optimistic assumptions than about the weakness of the economy.

The New York Times

Clearly, as Rieder points out, those won't work in isolation, any more than overly simple strategies like loan forgiveness or term extensions.

The Guardian - Money

At countless barbecue joints across the South, cobbler is often nothing more than overly sweet canned peaches baked in a hotel pan with commercial cake mix.

The New York Times - Food

"I tend to prefer to be on the trails, near the waterfalls, and under the trees as opposed to the more sanctioned, overly curated meditative experiences," he says.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "more overly" in your writing. It's grammatically incorrect and adds unnecessary words. Choose a single word like "excessively" or simply use "overly".

Common error

The most common mistake is using "more overly" when "overly" already implies a greater degree than necessary. Replace "more overly" with a single, appropriate adverb to avoid redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more overly" functions as an adverbial modifier, intending to intensify the degree of a following adjective. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "more" with "overly".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more overly" is grammatically incorrect and redundant, as indicated by Ludwig AI. Although it appears in various sources, including news and scientific articles, its usage is discouraged due to its violation of standard English grammar. Effective alternatives include using "overly" alone or opting for synonyms like "excessively", "unduly", or "unnecessarily". Therefore, writers should avoid using "more overly" in their work to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overly

Removes "more" making the phrase grammatically correct, expressing excess.

excessively

Single word alternative that directly conveys the idea of exceeding a reasonable limit, more concise.

unduly

Implies that something is inappropriately or unjustifiably excessive.

unnecessarily

Focuses on the lack of need for the excess, indicating it was avoidable.

inordinately

Highlights the extreme or unusual degree of excess.

gratuitously

Suggests the excess is uncalled for and potentially offensive or annoying.

extremely

Indicates a high degree of something, focusing on the intensity rather than the excessiveness.

over the top

An idiomatic expression indicating something is exaggerated and theatrical.

exceedingly

Similar to extremely, but can imply that something goes beyond the norm or expectation.

to a fault

Highlights that a characteristic is excessive to the point of being negative.

FAQs

Is "more overly" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "more overly" is grammatically incorrect. "Overly" already means "excessively" or "to an excessive degree", so adding "more" is redundant. It's best to use "overly" on its own or choose a different adverb like "excessively" or "unduly".

What are some alternatives to "more overly"?

Instead of "more overly", consider using alternatives like "overly", "excessively", or "unduly". These options are more concise and grammatically sound.

How can I use "overly" correctly in a sentence?

Use "overly" to modify an adjective or adverb, indicating that something is excessively or excessively done. For example: "The sauce was overly sweet" or "He reacted overly defensively".

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "overly" and "excessively"?

While "overly" and "excessively" are often interchangeable, "overly" sometimes carries a slightly milder connotation. "Excessively" tends to emphasize a greater degree of excess than "overly", but context is the most important indicator.