overly detailed

USAGE SUMMARY

"overly detailed" is an appropriate term to use in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is described in too much detail or with too much information, making it unhelpfully long or complex. For example, "The student's essay was overly detailed and contained too much information that was not relevant to the assignment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

But he'll notice if someone is just getting overly detailed, tooling away on edits too soon.

The Guardian - Music

Still, there is much to gain from this rich if overly detailed book.

The Economist

A vivid, overly detailed songwriter, Mr. Snider is a worthy antagonist.

The New York Times - Arts

His accents are overly detailed, especially for Bridget, the only main character who is white.

The New York Times - Arts

But her highly ambitious fourth novel, "The New Yorkers" (1969), was criticized as being overly detailed, rambling and without shape or form.

The New York Times - Arts

But every find must yield vast reserves of oil or there would be no point to the overly detailed, often sluggish book.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Teams have been known to downplay, exaggerate or overly detail their teams' injuries in an attempt to confuse or mislead upcoming opponents.

Wikipedia

Let's say you really have a tendency to be overly detail-oriented at work, think of certain projects during which this is particularly true and speak to those instances.

Huffington Post

The reviewers for Books in Canada, The Canadian Geographer, and the National Post found Homer-Dixon's writing self-indulgent because it overly details his travels and experiences, and because of his overly authoritative tone that compliments people that agree with him and shows little consideration of differing perspectives.

Wikipedia

These combats are lovingly detailed, almost overly descriptive, as Dubus tries to connect to the mythic struggle of male avengers throughout history.

The New York Times - Books

More often I tend to leave out overly technical details about the methods and so on.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overly detailed", consider whether the level of detail is truly necessary for your audience and purpose. If not, simplify the information to improve clarity and engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "overly detailed" when you mean to describe something that is simply thorough or comprehensive. "Overly detailed" implies an excess that detracts from the message, while "thorough" suggests completeness without unnecessary complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly detailed" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjective phrase, that describes a noun. It indicates that the noun it modifies possesses more detail than is necessary or desirable. Ludwig shows how it appears in various contexts, reinforcing its descriptive function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overly detailed" is a commonly used adjective phrase that describes something containing an excess of detail, often to a detrimental effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in a variety of contexts, from news and media to scientific writing. When using "overly detailed", it's important to consider the context and whether the level of detail truly serves the intended purpose. Related phrases like "excessively detailed" and "unduly elaborate" can offer nuanced alternatives. Be aware of the potential to confuse "overly detailed" with simply being "thorough", as the former implies a negative judgment about the excess of information. Finally, according to Ludwig, remember the context of your writing and analyze the type of language you need to use to describe something which is "overly detailed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively detailed

Emphasizes the degree of detail as being beyond what is necessary or appropriate.

unduly elaborate

Highlights that the level of elaboration is unwarranted or disproportionate.

needlessly intricate

Focuses on the unnecessary complexity introduced by the excessive detail.

excessively thorough

Indicates that the level of thoroughness is beyond what is required.

pedantically precise

Implies a focus on minute details to an almost annoying degree.

hyper detailed

A more informal way of saying something is excessively detailed.

too meticulous

Suggests an excessive concern with minor details.

over elaborate

Like "unduly elaborate", it emphasizes the unnecessary complexity introduced.

long winded

Describes something that takes too long to explain due to excessive detail.

verbose

Highlights the use of more words than necessary, often resulting in excessive detail.

FAQs

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

You can use "overly detailed" to describe anything with more details than necessary. For example: "The report was "overly detailed", making it difficult to understand the main points."

What is a less formal way to say "overly detailed"?

Informal alternatives to "overly detailed" include "too much detail", "too intricate", or "hyper detailed".

When is it appropriate to use "overly detailed"?

It's appropriate to use "overly detailed" when you want to criticize something for including too much information, making it cumbersome or confusing. It implies that the excess of detail is a negative quality.

Is there a difference between "too detailed" and "overly detailed"?

While similar, "overly detailed" carries a stronger connotation of criticism or disapproval compared to "too detailed". "Too detailed" simply means there is a lot of detail, while "overly detailed" suggests the detail is excessive and detrimental.