overly swift

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overly swift" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively fast or quick, often implying that the speed is not appropriate or desirable. Example: "The overly swift decision-making process led to several unforeseen consequences that could have been avoided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Overly swift reductions in federal spending could actually worsen the nation's budget imbalance by weakening economic growth and dampening tax revenues, Bernanke suggested.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This rebuttal is too swift.

SEP

Mr. Swig dismissed the gyrations as a minor issue, nothing to be overly concerned about, and sure enough, a swift application of the brakes subdued the shuddering.

The New York Times

Being overly excited can lead to poor card choice and swift defeat.

WikiHow

Overly harsh?

The New York Times

One swift.

The New York Times

Overly wacky?

The Guardian - Music

Her rise was swift.

The New York Times

Descent was swift.

Independent

Angry, swift and deadly.

The New York Times

But progress was swift.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overly swift", ensure the context clearly indicates why the speed is problematic. For instance, mention the negative consequences resulting from the haste.

Common error

While "overly swift" often suggests a negative outcome, be mindful that sometimes speed can be beneficial. Ensure your wording reflects the actual impact, rather than automatically assuming a drawback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly swift" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "overly" modifies the adjective "swift". According to Ludwig AI, it describes something done with excessive speed, often implying a negative consequence. Examples show it modifying actions, decisions, and processes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overly swift" is an adverb-adjective combination used to describe something done with excessive speed, often implying negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, highlighting that it describes an action as excessively fast and potentially detrimental. While grammatically sound, "overly swift" appears uncommonly and predominantly in news and media sources. To use it effectively, ensure that the context clearly indicates why the speed is problematic, explicitly outlining any resulting negative impacts. Be mindful of the possible alternatives of this phrase such as "excessively rapid" or "unduly quick".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unduly swift

Simple synonym replacement of "overly" with "unduly".

overly hasty

Simple synonym replacement of "swift" with "hasty".

excessively rapid

Replaces "swift" with "rapid" and "overly" with "excessively", emphasizing the exceeding of a normal rate.

unduly quick

Substitutes "overly" with "unduly", indicating that the speed is inappropriate or unwarranted.

inordinately fast

Uses "inordinately" to highlight the excessive nature of the speed.

unwarrantedly hasty

Replaces "swift" with "hasty" and "overly" with "unwarrantedly", suggesting a lack of justification for the speed.

too quick

More concise phrasing indicating undesirable speed.

needlessly hurried

Emphasizes the lack of necessity for the quickness, implying it could have been avoided.

excessively prompt

Replaces "swift" with "prompt" and "overly" with "excessively", highlighting the exceeding of a normal rate.

unnecessarily brisk

Suggests that the speed is more than required.

FAQs

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

You can use "overly swift" to describe actions or processes that are excessively fast, often leading to negative consequences. For instance, "The "overly swift decision" resulted in several overlooked details."

What's a good alternative to "overly swift"?

Alternatives include "excessively rapid", "unduly quick", or "inordinately fast", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always negative to describe something as "overly swift"?

While "overly swift" often implies a negative outcome due to haste, the context determines the actual impact. It suggests that the speed might have been detrimental in a specific situation.

What is the difference between "overly swift" and "very fast"?

"Very fast" simply describes speed, while "overly swift" suggests that the speed is excessive and potentially problematic. The phrase "overly swift" implies that the action was perhaps too quick, whereas "very fast" is just a descriptor of speed, with no implied judgement.