narrower than necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "narrower than necessary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is more limited or restricted than what is required or appropriate. Example: "The design of the new software interface feels narrower than necessary, making it difficult for users to navigate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

For the (blissfully) uninitiated, "the husband stitch" refers to the procedure of suturing the vaginal entrance narrower than necessary to repair trauma post-birth, with the presumption that this will enhance the sexual pleasure of a penetrating penis.

Vice

If he said "no", he was instructed to justify his disagreement; for example, the regimen was broader than necessary, at least one class of antimicrobial was unnecessary, the regimen was narrower than necessary, or there was no indication for an antimicrobial agent.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

(See "Ford Loss Narrower Than Expected").

Forbes

AMD Q2 Loss Narrower Than Feared.

Forbes

And part of that is establishing boundaries that sometimes seem way narrower than strictly necessary, because this, my friends, is where the parental holy grail of "safe rebellion" comes from.

The Guardian - Opinion

Without this log-transformation of heteroscedastic data, the LOA will be wider apart than necessary for low values and narrower than they should be for larger values [ 24].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

This greater-than-necessary vagueness allows the opposition to be vaguer than necessary, too".

The Guardian

Specialist #1 believed that the spectrum of activity was broader than necessary in 19 % of the cases, and in 30 % too narrow.

BMC Infectious Diseases

than necessary to sustain growth.

The New York Times

"That is higher than necessary.

The New York Times

"We make it more excessive than necessary.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "narrower than necessary", ensure that the context clearly establishes what the necessary or appropriate scope should be. Providing a benchmark helps the reader understand the degree of limitation you're describing.

Common error

Avoid using "narrower than necessary" without specifying what the appropriate width or scope should be. This can leave the reader unsure of the intended meaning. Always provide context or a reference point for the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrower than necessary" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It typically modifies a noun, indicating that the noun's scope, size, or extent is more limited than what is required or appropriate. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

50%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "narrower than necessary" is a grammatically sound and usable expression employed to indicate that something is more limited or constrained than required. Ludwig AI confirms this. While not extremely common, it appears across various sources including News & Media and Scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies what the adequate scope should be to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "more restricted than needed" or "too restrictive" can also be considered depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more restricted than needed

Emphasizes the aspect of restriction beyond what is required.

more limited than required

Focuses on the limitation aspect, indicating a deficiency in scope or extent.

less extensive than needed

Highlights the lack of extensiveness, suggesting something doesn't cover enough ground.

more constrained than needed

Indicates that something is overly constrained or confined.

too restrictive

A shorter, more direct way of saying something is excessively limiting.

unnecessarily restricted

Adds emphasis on the lack of necessity for the restriction.

more confined than necessary

Focuses on the idea of being confined or restricted within certain limits.

too limited for the purpose

Highlights the inadequacy of something for a specific goal or function.

more compact than needed

Suggests an unnecessary reduction in size or scope.

excessively limited

Emphasizes the excessiveness of the limitation.

FAQs

How can I use "narrower than necessary" in a sentence?

Use "narrower than necessary" to describe something that is more limited or restricted than it needs to be. For example, "The new regulations are "narrower than necessary", hindering innovation."

What are some alternatives to "narrower than necessary"?

Alternatives include phrases like "more restricted than needed", "too restrictive", or "unnecessarily restricted", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "narrower than necessary"?

It's appropriate when you want to convey that something has been limited or reduced to an extent that is excessive or detrimental to its intended purpose. This can apply to policies, definitions, physical spaces, or abstract concepts.

What is the difference between ""narrower than necessary"" and "too narrow"?

"Narrower than necessary" implies a comparison to an ideal or required width, suggesting an excessive limitation. "Too narrow" simply states that something is insufficient in width, without explicitly referring to a specific need.