much too high

USAGE SUMMARY

"much too high" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a quantity or amount that is significantly greater than what is needed or expected. Example: The price of the new iPhone is much too high for most consumers to afford. In this sentence, "much too high" is used to convey that the price of the new iPhone is excessively high and not reasonable for most people to pay.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was much too high a limit.

Stanford University

Fortunately it rose much too high.

The Guardian

King said this was "much too high".

The Guardian - Business

"But the corn was much too high".

The New Yorker

"The price of insects is much too high," she said.

The New York Times

"The numbers are much too high," he said.

The Guardian

"The unemployment rate, while still much too high, has stopped increasing".

The New York Times

Ms. Goyens said the data roaming cap was still much too high.

The New York Times - Tech

"In most advanced economies, unemployment remains much too high," he added.

Independent

Inflation fell slightly, to 9.1% in November, but is still much too high.

The Economist

But the price of those points in potential human suffering is much too high.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "much too high" to clearly and directly express that something exceeds a reasonable or acceptable limit. It's effective when you want to emphasize the degree of excess.

Common error

While "much too high" is widely understood, consider using more formal alternatives like "excessively high" or "unacceptably high" in academic papers or business reports to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much too high" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying an adjective. It intensifies the adjective "high", indicating a degree that is significantly beyond what is acceptable or desirable. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much too high" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express that something exceeds an acceptable limit. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid phrase. It is very common, appearing frequently in news and media, science, and business contexts. While its register is generally neutral, consider using more formal alternatives in certain professional settings. To enhance your writing, remember that "much too high" effectively conveys a strong sense of disapproval or concern about excessive levels or amounts, but ensure the tone is appropriate for your audience. Be mindful of potential overuse and explore synonyms like "far too high" or "excessively high" for added nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far too high

Indicates a greater degree of excess compared to "much too high".

excessively high

Emphasizes the exceeding of a normal or acceptable level.

prohibitively high

Suggests the level is so high it prevents something from happening or being affordable.

unacceptably high

Focuses on the level being beyond what is considered tolerable or permissible.

overly high

Implies an unnecessary or gratuitous degree of elevation.

inordinately high

Suggests an excessive or disproportionate degree.

astronomically high

Emphasizes an extremely high, almost unbelievable level.

exorbitantly high

Specific to prices or costs, implying they are unreasonably expensive.

unduly high

Suggests that the height or level is inappropriate or unwarranted.

needlessly high

Indicates the level is high without any justifiable reason.

FAQs

How can I use "much too high" in a sentence?

Use "much too high" to describe something that exceeds a reasonable or acceptable limit. For example, "The interest rates are "much too high" for us to afford the loan".

What are some alternatives to "much too high"?

You can use alternatives such as "far too high", "excessively high", or "prohibitively high" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "much too high" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "much too high" might be considered informal in certain formal contexts. Alternatives like "excessively high" or "unacceptably high" may be more suitable.

What's the difference between "too high" and "much too high"?

"Much too high" emphasizes a greater degree of excess compared to simply "too high". It indicates that something is significantly beyond what is acceptable or reasonable.