overly thorough

USAGE SUMMARY

"overly thorough" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe someone who is taking more time than necessary when doing something, or someone who is going to extreme lengths in order to ensure something is done correctly. For example, "After her last project was criticized for being careless, Jane decided to be overly thorough with her next assignment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The manuscript is well written, clear in its argumentation, and statements are well backed by an almost overly thorough analysis and a large amount of data of high quality.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Too thorough, actually.

The New York Times - Books

His performance was viewed by lawmakers in both parties as thorough and deliberative without seeming overly partisan.

The New York Times

Hunter's original analyses, while overly binary at times, remain the most thorough sociological treatment of the topic and its various manifestations in American public life to date.

University of Chicago

There are concerns that thorough QT trials may be overly restrictive, as some drugs registered pre-ICH E14 prolong QT but are not associated with high rates of TdP.

Cardiovascular Research

Unfortunately, those who own the shipping lines and run the ports have become overly dependent upon remote technologies that are neither as thorough nor perceptive as the human eye.

The New York Times

We decided that including a thorough discussion of this possibility in our current manuscript would be overly speculative without further evidence for such a mechanism.

eLife

As Mr. Kilroy's excellent if sometimes overly loquacious adaptation clarifies, she is the rare character in the play granted true and thorough self-knowledge.

The New York Times

He contends the workshop evidence and findings were overly controlled by its organizers and that the time allotted was too short for a thorough review of the literature.

Wikipedia

Overly harsh?

The New York Times

Scraping: thorough.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overly thorough", consider the context and whether the excessiveness has positive or negative consequences. This will help you fine-tune your language and make your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid automatically equating thoroughness with quality. Just because something is "overly thorough" does not mean it is inherently better. The excessive detail could lead to wasted time, resources, or even confusion. Being concise and effective is often more valuable than being exhaustively comprehensive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly thorough" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "overly" modifies the adjective "thorough". It serves to intensify and qualify the degree of thoroughness, indicating that it exceeds what is necessary or appropriate. As Ludwig AI explains, it is a correct and usable phrase to describe an action done with excessive care.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overly thorough" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something done with excessive detail or effort. While thoroughness is generally positive, being "overly thorough" implies that the extra effort may be unnecessary or even counterproductive. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and its appearance across diverse sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and scientific publications like Cardiovascular Research, indicates its widespread acceptance. When using this phrase, consider the context and the potential impact of the excessiveness. Alternatives such as "unnecessarily thorough" or "excessively detailed" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessarily thorough

Highlights the lack of necessity in being so thorough.

excessively detailed

Focuses on the high amount of detail provided.

meticulous to a fault

Implies that the meticulousness is excessive and potentially detrimental.

overly comprehensive

Emphasizes the breadth of coverage, possibly beyond what is required.

too meticulous

A more direct way of saying that someone is excessively focused on detail.

overly painstaking

Focuses on the effortful and potentially tedious nature of the thoroughness.

nitpicky

Focuses on minor details to an excessive degree.

excessively scrupulous

Highlights the extreme attention to detail driven by moral or ethical considerations.

needlessly exhaustive

Indicates that the exhaustive nature of the effort was not needed.

pedantic

Suggests an excessive concern with minor details and rules.

FAQs

What does "overly thorough" mean?

"Overly thorough" means excessively detailed or comprehensive, often to the point where the additional effort is unnecessary or counterproductive.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "overly thorough"?

Use "overly thorough" when you want to suggest that something has been done with more detail than required, potentially leading to inefficiency or other negative consequences. Alternatives include "unnecessarily thorough" or "excessively detailed".

How can I avoid being "overly thorough" in my work?

Focus on the essential requirements of the task and prioritize efficiency. Regularly assess whether the added detail is truly contributing to the overall goal, or if it's simply adding complexity without significant benefit.

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

"Thorough" implies completeness and attention to detail, which is generally positive. "Overly thorough", on the other hand, suggests that the level of detail is excessive and potentially detrimental. You might be "too meticulous".