overdue suggestion

USAGE SUMMARY

"overdue suggestion" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a suggestion that should have been made earlier or is now considered late. For example: "Her overdue suggestion finally addressed the issues we had been facing." Alternative expressions include "late suggestion" and "belated suggestion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has even made the long overdue suggestion that maybe Americans should bother learning another language or two so that when they travel abroad they're able to say a few respectful phrases in native tongue.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was a welcome suggestion that should help stir an overdue debate on development priorities.

The New York Times

This is a long-overdue correction, though Bonami has pooh-poohed the suggestion that this was his goal.

The Guardian - Arts

Mr. Loeb's suggestion was viewed as a long-overdue call to unlink two disparate businesses — electronics and entertainment — and to cut studio spending.

The New York Times

A long overdue disarmament program is yet to be started and suggestions to do so, many analysts believe, have turned peacekeepers into targets of orchestrated attacks.

The New York Times

Recent suggestions urge advancing Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) to provide the overdue support tools for individuals in the envisaged Knowledge Societies.

Procedia Computer Science

And he dismissed the suggestion that the network's direct support of "Bobby Jones Gospel" was overdue.

The New York Times - Arts

I was, I think, the first MP to make this suggestion that mortgages should be banned, some seven or eight years ago, and it is long overdue.

The Guardian

The suggestion by Reed Hastings to tax executive earnings of more than $1 million at 50percentt is long overdue.

The New York Times

Thus, diabetics will enter glucose and blood pressure results on their website, receive suggestions regarding changes in management to improve their control, and be notified when they are overdue for preventive measures like eye or foot exams.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Ministers have rejected suggestions this is a step towards disengaging from or leaving the EU, claiming the exercise is long overdue and will inform future decision-making and efforts to reduce bureaucracy.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overdue suggestion" when you want to emphasize that an idea is not just new, but should have been voiced or implemented a long time ago. It is a powerful way to add rhetorical weight to a proposal in editorial or professional writing.

Common error

Avoid combining it with other temporal adjectives like in "late overdue suggestion", as "overdue" already encompasses the meaning of being late. Additionally, ensure the adjective directly precedes the noun to maintain the strongest impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overdue suggestion" functions as a noun phrase where "overdue" is an attributive adjective and "suggestion" is the head noun. According to Ludwig, this structure is commonly used to provide a qualitative and temporal evaluation of an idea within a single constituent.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overdue suggestion" is a precise and grammatically correct English phrase used to describe a proposal that arrives after the expected or ideal time. While the specific bigram is classified as Rare in terms of exact string matches, the underlying sentiment of a "suggestion being overdue" is a frequent motif in high-quality journalism and professional discourse. Data from Ludwig indicates that the phrase is most prevalent in the News & Media sector, where it serves as a rhetorical tool to highlight delays in policy or social reform. Writers should use it to convey urgency or to acknowledge that a solution, while welcome, has been significantly delayed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

belated suggestion

Uses a synonym for late that often carries a slightly more apologetic tone

long overdue recommendation

Increases the intensity of the delay and uses a more formal noun

much-needed suggestion

Shifts the focus from the delay to the necessity of the idea

late advice

A more informal and direct way to express a delayed tip

delayed proposal

Focuses on the procedural holdup of a formal offer

belated proposal

Professional alternative often used in business or formal requests

overdue guidance

Implies a lack of direction that is finally being addressed

tardy proposition

Uses a more formal, slightly archaic adjective for lateness

overdue tip

A less formal version suitable for casual or instructional contexts

prolonged recommendation

Suggests that the process of recommending took a long time

FAQs

How do I use "overdue suggestion" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object to describe a delayed idea, such as: "The committee finally accepted her "overdue suggestion" to overhaul the safety protocols."

What can I say instead of "overdue suggestion"?

Depending on the formality, you might use a "belated suggestion", a "long overdue recommendation", or a "much-needed suggestion".

Is "overdue suggestion" formal?

Yes, it is suitable for professional and journalistic writing. It is frequently seen in high-quality publications like The New York Times and The Guardian.

What is the difference between an "overdue suggestion" and a "belated suggestion"?

An "overdue suggestion" implies that the suggestion was expected or required earlier, whereas a "belated suggestion" often implies it is simply coming after the ideal time, sometimes with an apologetic undertone.