occasionally excessive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occasionally excessive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that happens from time to time and is more than what is considered normal or necessary. Example: "The feedback from the clients was occasionally excessive, leading to confusion among the team about their expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is Corbyn's bold, if occasionally excessive, passion for change that makes him so appealing to young voters like myself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Another school of thought conceives of Mr. Erdogan's campaign as a clumsy, occasionally excessive but necessary correction: an effort to undo Turkey's long marginalization of the devout.

The New York Times

On the contrary, we read at occasionally excessive length of the bureaucratic battles that beset the lives of the three "chiefs", namely Admiral Mansfield Cumming and his two successors, Hugh Sinclair and Stewart Menzies.

The Guardian - Books

Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe, though found the program's grim tone to be occasionally excessive, opined that the two men successfully engaged audiences enough to invest in the series with their performances.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Unfamiliar though is the 90-minute opera's sunny straightforwardness, a clarity that occasionally feels excessive.

The New York Times - Arts

"Iran has made its utmost efforts and made the necessary adjustments to its demands and we hope that all the P5+1 countries, particularly the US, which occasionally seeks excessive demands in the nuclear talks, will understand the circumstances," Rouhani said, according to the state-run Press TV.

The Guardian

Occasionally, they are excessive.

The Guardian - Books

Soft porcelain, always regarded as a substitute for hard porcelain, was progressively discontinued because it was uneconomic; kiln wastage was excessive, occasionally rising to nine-tenths of the total.

Britannica

Occasionally it seemed excessive to the layman, most obviously the convoy between the hotel and the ground or airport when the roads were cleared for the buses carrying the teams and the press.

The Guardian - Sport

This principle of openness, learned over the long course of the Ugandan AIDS epidemic, helped in the country's 2000/2001 Ebola outbreak to keep an occasionally panicky populace from excessive over-reaction, and thereby contributed to containing the virus, as well as to reducing stigma and other negative consequences.

Globalization and Health

That means occasionally standing up to the excessive demands of public employee unions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "occasionally excessive", ensure the context clearly establishes a baseline or norm against which the excessiveness is judged. This provides a frame of reference for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "occasionally excessive" when the excess happens more frequently than occasionally. Using "frequently excessive" or "often excessive" may be more accurate if the excess occurs regularly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "occasionally excessive" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the degree to which something is excessive. It indicates that a particular behavior, quantity, or attribute exceeds the normal or acceptable level at certain times but not consistently. As exemplified by Ludwig, the phrase effectively communicates a nuanced assessment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "occasionally excessive" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, signifying that something surpasses typical boundaries at times, but not consistently. Ludwig AI affirms its validity, confirming that it effectively softens criticisms and offers a balanced perspective across diverse contexts like News & Media and Science. While alternatives such as "sometimes exorbitant" or "intermittently over the top" exist, "occasionally excessive" provides a precise means of indicating frequency, making it suitable for various writing styles and registers. Recognizing its function and frequency ensures more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sometimes exorbitant

Indicates a price or cost that is higher than usual or expected, but not always so.

intermittently over the top

Describes behavior or actions that are exaggerated or dramatic at irregular intervals.

sporadically immoderate

Suggests a lack of restraint or moderation that occurs now and then.

periodically undue

Implies something that happens from time to time that is inappropriate or unwarranted.

now and then unwarranted

Describes actions or situations that are not justified and happen infrequently.

at times unreasonable

Indicates behavior or demands that are not rational or fair on certain occasions.

from time to time extreme

Suggests actions or conditions that are radical or intensified but not constant.

irregularly inordinate

Describes something that is unusually large or excessive but occurs without a pattern.

off and on surplus

Implies an amount or quantity that is more than necessary and happens occasionally.

certain instances superfluous

Indicates that something is unnecessary and happens only in particular situations.

FAQs

How can I use "occasionally excessive" in a sentence?

You can use "occasionally excessive" to describe something that is usually within acceptable limits, but sometimes goes beyond those limits. For example, "The security measures were generally reasonable, but occasionally excessive".

What are some alternatives to "occasionally excessive"?

Alternatives include "sometimes exorbitant", "intermittently over the top", or "sporadically immoderate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "occasionally excessive" redundant?

While "excessive" already implies an overabundance, "occasionally" clarifies that it doesn't happen all the time. The phrase isn't necessarily redundant, as it adds specificity about the frequency of the excess.

What is the difference between "occasionally excessive" and "always excessive"?

"Occasionally excessive" means that something is excessive sometimes, but not all the time. "Always excessive" means it is excessive in every instance. The key difference is the frequency of the excess.