overly specific

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overly specific" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe something that provides more details than necessary. For example, "His résumé was overly specific, listing all of his high school extracurricular activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Details grew overly specific; a narrative, however spare, emerged.

The New Yorker

But it should not be done through overly specific laws and percentage limits, he said.

The New York Times

Instead, her precisely calculated and overly specific performance leaves a sense of manipulated pity and a shrug of confirmation.

The New Yorker

Truth is, though, the rule has come to be regarded as at once overly specific and underenforced.

The New York Times

Teachers, they said, may prep students with overly specific suggestions out of frustration that they do not have time to teach all the material that might be covered.

The New York Times

Impressively, it can even parse images, leading to the (perhaps overly specific) suggestion of "Nice Bernese mountain dog" as one such reply.

The Guardian - Tech

It would be foolish, in my view, to render any overly specific predictions about how the negotiations are likely to be resolved.

The New York Times

The Treasury secretary said he wanted to leave many of the details to the actual regulators, rather than spell them out in legislation, warning that an overly specific law could give market participants opportunities to evade the rules.

The New York Times

The winner of the Literary Review's 2015 award for Bad Sex in Fiction will be announced on December 1, and the nominated extracts include the usual mix of overly specific descriptions, contrived imagery and unintentional comedy.

Independent

At once beautiful and disturbing, abstract and overly specific, these objects were sometimes presented on pedestals that placed them, rather imperiously, at eye level, calling attention to their every shift in color, texture and shape, inside and out.

The New York Times - Arts

When Mr. Rock made fun of the television networks' obsession with the descending Dow Jones average in the hours after the attacks on the World Trade Center, a little gasp went up from the well-heeled crowd, indicating, perhaps, that not everyone was ready to be tickled by overly specific references to that day.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal or technical writing, assess whether the benefit of "overly specific" language outweighs the risk of potential loopholes or misinterpretations.

Common error

Don't assume that adding more and more details will automatically make your writing clearer. Being "overly specific" can actually obscure the main point and make your message harder to understand. Focus on relevance and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly specific" functions as an adjective modifier, typically describing a noun or idea that contains more detail than necessary or appropriate. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "overly specific" is a commonly used adjective modifier to describe something containing more details than necessary. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. While the phrase itself maintains a neutral tone, it often serves the purpose of criticizing or evaluating something for being excessively detailed and potentially confusing. When aiming for clarity, remember that being "overly specific" can hinder effective communication. Strive for a balance, providing enough detail to clarify your message without overwhelming your audience with irrelevant information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively detailed

Focuses on the excessive amount of detail provided.

needlessly precise

Emphasizes the lack of necessity for the precision.

unnecessarily granular

Highlights the fine-grained level of detail as being superfluous.

excessively meticulous

Points to an overabundance of care and attention to detail.

overelaborated

Indicates that something has been developed or presented with too much detail.

overly elaborate

Similar to 'overelaborated' but puts emphasis on the complexity.

hyper-detailed

A more emphatic way to say that something contains a lot of details.

unduly particular

Stresses that the level of specificity is inappropriate or unwarranted.

gratuitously detailed

Adds the idea that the detail is not only excessive but also uncalled for.

nitpickingly precise

Implies that the precision is focused on trivial or unimportant details.

FAQs

How can I avoid being "overly specific" in my writing?

Focus on the essential information your audience needs to understand your point. Remove any details that are irrelevant or that could distract from your message. Use summaries or generalizations where appropriate.

What's the difference between being "specific" and "overly specific"?

Being "specific" means providing enough detail to clarify your message, while being "overly specific" means including so much detail that it becomes confusing or overwhelming. The key is to strike a balance.

When is it appropriate to be "overly specific"?

In some contexts, such as legal contracts or scientific research, a high level of detail may be necessary to avoid ambiguity or ensure accuracy. However, even in these cases, it's important to consider whether all of the details are truly essential.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "overly specific"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "excessively detailed", "needlessly precise", or "unnecessarily granular".