more than required

USAGE SUMMARY

"more than required" is a correct phrase to use in written English.
It means that there is an excess or extra amount of something beyond what is needed or necessary. You can use it to describe a situation where there is an abundance or surplus of something. Here is an example sentence: The company ordered more than required supplies, resulting in a surplus of inventory that took up valuable storage space.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Roszkowski points to efforts to improve counseling as well as to better prepare students for college: In the past two years, the district has extended the school day by 90 minutes, tightened the attendance policy and increased graduation requirements to 160 credits, 50 more than required by the state.

The New York Times

Together, he said, those states are worth 290 electoral votes, 20 more than required to win.

The New York Times

So any amount more than required for incapacitation can't be justified on this consequentialist ground.

Yale University

Most western states are predicted to actually reduce carbon more than required by the CPP.

Stanford University

My husband, who is long divorced, pays his ex-wife much more than required child support.

The New York Times

Mr. Somoza said the Hudson Street building has three sets of staircases, one more than required by city regulations.

The New York Times

They collected more than 252,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot, nearly 100,000 more than required.

The New York Times

The plan for the Kapors' house received 91 points, 31 more than required for a green designation in Berkeley.

The New York Times

Most large corporations continue to treat them as a necessary evil, doing or saying little more than required by law, shareholder-rights advocates say.

The New York Times

Once it got out of Congress, it passed, handily, in forty-two oforty-eightht states, six more than required, and took effect on February 25 , 1913

The New Yorker

The Economic Opportunity Institute, a think tank here gathered 30,000 signatures, 11,000 more than required, and got the measure on the ballot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more than required", consider if a more specific term would better convey your intended meaning. For instance, "excessive" suggests an undesirable amount, while "surplus" implies a usable overage.

Common error

Avoid using "more than required" when a stronger term like "excessive" or "gratuitous" is more appropriate to convey a negative judgment about the surplus. Choose the term that best matches your intended tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than required" functions as a post-modifier, typically describing a noun by indicating that its quantity or extent exceeds a specified or understood necessary level. This is supported by examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

37%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "more than required" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate an excess beyond what is necessary. Analysis reveals its frequent application across diverse fields like news, science, and academia. While generally neutral, choosing specific alternatives like "excessive" or "surplus" can better convey nuances related to the nature of the overage. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase, and examples demonstrate its versatility in various contexts. When using "more than required", ensure it aligns with the intended tone and clarity of the written piece.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than necessary

A direct synonym, emphasizing that the quantity goes beyond what is essential.

more than sufficient

Emphasizes that the quantity is not just adequate, but provides a buffer.

surplus to requirements

Highlights that something is extra and not currently needed.

in excess of what's needed

Highlights the surplus nature of the amount, focusing on the unnecessary quantity.

beyond the call of duty

Implies exceeding expectations or obligations, often in a commendable way.

above and beyond

Highlights exceeding what is expected and often used in a positive context.

over and above what is stipulated

Formal and emphasizes exceeding a defined specification or condition.

exceeding the stipulated amount

Formal and emphasizes that the amount goes over what was previously agreed or indicated.

gratuitous

Implies something is excessive and unnecessary, often with a negative connotation.

uncalled for

Suggests that something was not necessary and perhaps inappropriate.

FAQs

How can I use "more than required" in a sentence?

You can use "more than required" to indicate that the amount of something exceeds what is necessary or obligatory. For instance, "The company produced "more than required" units, resulting in a surplus."

What's a simple substitute for "more than required"?

Alternatives include "more than necessary", "surplus", or "excessive depending on the context".

When is it appropriate to use "more than required"?

"More than required" is appropriate when describing quantities, efforts, or resources that exceed the minimal or expected level. Be mindful of the connotation; if the excess is negative, consider words like "unnecessary" or "superfluous".

What is the difference between "more than required" and "exceeds expectations"?

"More than required" denotes a quantity or amount, while "exceeds expectations" describes a performance or result. You might say "The project used more than required funding" versus "The project's outcome exceeded expectations".