overly abundant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overly abundant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively plentiful or more than what is necessary. Example: "The garden was overly abundant with flowers, making it a vibrant and colorful sight."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Other microbes, including native E. coli strains, were overly abundant and oddly virulent.

The New York Times

Opportunities for displaying a seven-story, 20-ton steel sculpture not being overly abundant, "Joie de Vivre" is in storage.

The New York Times

"Soul Train" dancers always worked with rock rhythms, trying to find its basis — soul — beneath the snare drums and overly abundant verbiage.

The New Yorker

The result was a profusion of herbicides and fertilizers, which produced overly abundant grapes, harvested early by mechanical pickers because growers feared the risk of waiting for optimal ripeness.

The New York Times

They found that the peptide was overly abundant in the mutant mice, and that its expression was usually repressed by the normal version of MeCP2.The results point to a likely therapy.

The Economist

We obtain a more flexible estimation procedure giving better estimates particularly when the auxiliary information is overly abundant or not fully appropriate to be completely used.

Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Abundant sunlight helps, too.

Forbes

The latter remained overly represented in habitat of marginal quality regardless of abundance status, whereas the former taxa were more abundant in habitat of overall higher quality (that is, optimal to suitable; Table 3).

BMC Ecology

An overly dramatic shot of "Meghan" reveals her minimally clad frame stretched out in shallow rapids; the one of "Jada" shows her abundant body in brief black panties, squatting in water in a green glen.

The New York Times - Arts

Abundant parking.

The New York Times

Overly harsh?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overly abundant", consider the context and whether a more specific adjective might be more impactful. For instance, instead of "overly abundant information", you might say "overwhelming information" if the abundance is causing difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "overly abundant" when a positive connotation is desired. While it isn't inherently negative, the "overly" suggests a potential excess that might be undesirable. In such cases, "abundant" or "plentiful" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly abundant" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun as being present in an excessive or surplus quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. The phrase describes the extent to which a thing is present.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "overly abundant" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival modifier that indicates an excessive quantity of something. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. While its register is generally neutral, it tends to appear more frequently in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a slightly more formal usage. When considering its use, remember that "overly" can imply a negative consequence, so choose your words carefully. Alternatives such as "excessively plentiful" or "inordinately copious" can offer nuanced shades of meaning. In essence, "overly abundant" is a versatile phrase, but context and connotation should guide its application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overly plentiful

A direct synonym, simply replacing "abundant" with "plentiful".

excessively plentiful

Focuses on the excessive nature of the abundance.

inordinately copious

Emphasizes the unusually large quantity.

exceedingly profuse

Highlights the lavish and unrestrained quality of the abundance.

unduly ample

Suggests that the amount is more than necessary or appropriate.

unnecessarily profuse

Emphasizes the lack of necessity for the abundant amount.

unwarrantedly copious

Indicates the abundance is not justified or deserved.

gratuitously excessive

Implies the excess is unwarranted or uncalled for.

superfluously bountiful

Highlights the redundant nature of the abundance, implying it's more than needed.

over the top

An informal way of saying that something is excessive.

FAQs

How can I use "overly abundant" in a sentence?

Use "overly abundant" to describe something that exists in excessive quantities. For example, "The report contained an "overly abundant amount of data", making it difficult to extract key insights."

What are some alternatives to "overly abundant"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "excessively plentiful", "inordinately copious", or simply "excessive".

Is there a negative connotation to using "overly abundant"?

The word "overly" can imply that the abundance is excessive to the point of being problematic. Consider whether a simpler term like "abundant" or "plentiful" might be more appropriate if you don't want to suggest a negative impact.

What's the difference between "abundant" and "overly abundant"?

"Abundant" simply means existing in large quantities. "Overly abundant" suggests that the quantity is so large that it might be excessive or create a problem. For example, you might say resources are "abundant", but weeds are "overly abundant".