over specification

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over specification" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is most commonly used in technical or business contexts to refer to providing too much detail or detail that is not necessary. Example: The product requirements document contained over specification, causing confusion and delays in the development process.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Allegedly this man did just that, and the the battery heated up a bit over specification.

TechCrunch

The interaction model still assumes constant parameters with respect to time along the whole observation period T. The mixing matrix defined in equation (2) becomes <img src="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?id=info?doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0000502.e011.PNG" class= inline-graphic"/> where we again fix Ss to be 1 to avoid model over specification.

Plosone

The result of assuming that the numerically negative covariance is zero would be an over specification of significance (spuriously narrow confidence intervals).

Cancer Causes and Control

User preferences may change over time and engaging with a limited range of users may result in over specification of the product [ 22].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It knows that if you have an expensive material, whether silicon for a solar panel, or top-notch wood for a table, there are parts of the product where you can use a cheaper material, and where using the more expensive material is needless over-specification.

Independent

Over-specification helps no-one.

Transmission and Distribution Electrical Engineering

The over-specification arose because integral constraints were imposed on the vortex sheet strengths.

Journal of Computational Physics

The number of drought classes or hidden states in the model is pre-specified, which can sometimes result in model over-specification problem.

Journal of Hydrology

However, the probability associated with high variance periods is very low and hence there would be no problems of over-specification.

Latin American Economic Review

However, the UC-CP model would be an over-specification of the UC-C model, since both present the same decomposition.

Latin American Economic Review

These errors could cause over-specification of the absorption required of surface materials, and the inaccurate prediction of acoustic and speech intelligibility related parameters.

Applied Acoustics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before finalizing project specifications, get stakeholders to review. This will ensure all details are necessary and avoid "over specification".

Common error

Avoid "over specification" by focusing on conveying core requirements. Too much detail can obscure the essential elements and lead to misinterpretations. Aim for a balance that ensures clarity without overwhelming the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over specification" functions as a noun phrase that typically describes a situation where requirements or details are excessively defined. This can lead to unnecessary complexity or constraints in a project or design as shown by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over specification" is a noun phrase used to describe instances where excessive details or requirements are provided. While grammatically correct, it's most frequently found in scientific and technical contexts where precision is crucial, yet unnecessary detail is seen as problematic. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. To avoid "over specification", focus on clear, concise communication, and regularly review project requirements with stakeholders. Alternative phrases include "excessive detailing" and "undue precision".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessive detailing

Focuses on the act of providing too many details.

undue precision

Highlights the unnecessary level of exactness.

overly detailed

Describes something that contains too much detail.

gold plating

Emphasizes adding unnecessary features or enhancements.

scope creep

Refers to uncontrolled changes or continuous growth in a project's scope.

feature bloat

Indicates the addition of excessive or unnecessary features to a product.

over engineering

Implies designing a product or system to be more complex than necessary.

unnecessary complexity

Highlights the needless complication of a design or plan.

redundant features

Points out the presence of duplicate or superfluous elements.

excessive requirements

Focuses on demanding more than is truly needed.

FAQs

How does "over specification" affect a project?

Excessive detailing, or "over specification", can lead to increased costs, delays, and confusion among team members. Clear and concise specifications are generally more effective.

What are some alternatives to "over specification"?

You can use alternatives such as "excessive detailing", "undue precision", or "overly detailed" depending on the context.

When is providing detailed specifications necessary?

Detailed specifications are essential when dealing with complex or safety-critical systems. However, always ensure the level of detail aligns with the project's actual needs to avoid "over specification".

How can I prevent "over specification" in requirements documents?

Focus on outlining the essential functions and outcomes instead of prescribing specific implementations. Regularly review and refine the document with key stakeholders to ensure conciseness and relevance.