much too short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much too short" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It typically means that something is shorter than it should be or than desired. It can also imply that the amount or length is excessive or extreme. Example: "The essay was much too short and lacked sufficient supporting evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

And much too short.

The New York Times

They have bowled much too short this morning.

The Guardian - Sport

Regrettably, our attention spans are often much too short.

The New York Times

"How to Read and Why" is, among other things, much too short.

The New York Times - Books

To my brave and beautiful Bunny, I will always treasure our much too short time together.

The New York Times

The incubation period — the interval between exposure and the onset of illness — was much too short.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

The closing program of the much-too-short Look & Listen Festival at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery on Monday evening focused mostly on composers who also perform and performers who compose.

The New York Times - Arts

Too much cleavage, too short, too tight etc looks unsisterly and attention-seeking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I would probably say my family has been through way too much in too short a time," Ms. Van de Putte said.

The New York Times

"The American Center had no track record of fund-raising and tried to do too much in too short a period of time.

The New York Times - Arts

Re "The Confidence Surplus," by David Brooks (column, Jan . 9, and "The Obama Gap," by Paul Krugman (column, Jan . 9: Mr. Brooks says President-elect Barack Obama's economic plan is too "complex" and tries to do way too much in too short a time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "much too short" to describe time, consider whether "fleeting" or "transient" might provide a more vivid or evocative description.

Common error

Avoid using "much too short" with abstract nouns where a more specific adjective might be appropriate. For example, instead of "much too short attention span", try "limited attention span".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much too short" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "short". It expresses a degree of deficiency in length or duration. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

26%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much too short" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that something is less than the desired or expected length or duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a versatile phrase applicable across various contexts, with the most common being in News & Media. When writing, consider more descriptive alternatives like "far too short" for emphasis, and avoid overuse with abstract nouns where more specific adjectives may be appropriate. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for a broad range of writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far too short

Emphasizes the inadequacy in length to a greater degree.

considerably too short

Highlights the significant extent to which something falls short.

noticeably too short

Indicates that the insufficient length is easily observed.

remarkably too short

Focuses on the surprising aspect of the insufficient length.

excessively brief

Replaces "short" with a synonym, heightening the sense of inadequacy.

inadequately long

Uses a negative framing to describe the shortness.

insufficiently extended

Emphasizes the lack of duration or reach.

appreciably too short

Highlights that the shortness is considerable or measurable.

decidedly too short

Stresses that shortness is definite and clear.

unacceptably brief

Implies that the shortness is problematic and does not meet requirements.

FAQs

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

You can use "much too short" to describe something that is less than the desired length or duration, for example, "The movie was enjoyable, but the ending felt "much too short"".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "much too short"?

Alternatives include "far too short", "excessively brief", or "inadequately long", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "much too short"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that something is not long enough, either literally in terms of physical length, or figuratively in terms of time or duration. For example, "The rope was "much too short" to reach the other side".

Is there a difference between "too short" and "much too short"?

"Much too short" intensifies the meaning of "too short", emphasizing that the item in question is significantly shorter than needed or expected. Using "much" adds a degree of emphasis.