overwhelming backlog

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overwhelming backlog" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is a large amount of work or tasks that need to be completed, often causing stress or difficulty in managing them. Example: "The company is currently facing an overwhelming backlog of customer service requests due to the recent product launch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

An "enhanced screening" process – criticised for its lack of transparency – was introduced to deal with the overwhelming backlog of asylum seekers, which grew to 20,000 by mid-2013.

The Guardian

Mr. Lubetzky worked for years at the Library of Congress, where he started in the 1940's sorting out an overwhelming backlog of books waiting to be entered into the library's soaring inventory.

The New York Times

Mr. Harvey said that when he first joined the Department of Law and Public Safety as the director of criminal justice in 2000, he was troubled by the overwhelming backlog of DNA tests.

The New York Times

In particular, reduction oxidation/oxygen (redox -sensitive tredox -sensitivetranscriptionned an overwhelming backlog ofactorsest momentum over thaveears, ever since the onset of the burgainedg field of free ranical research and overwhelmingress.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The burden was simply growing overwhelming; their backlog of submissions was getting bigger and bigger, and this manual method of approval clearly wasn't keeping up.

TechCrunch

The growing social uprising is from mounting resentment towards law enforcement within the poor communities that need policing the most, but have overwhelming mistrust from a backlog of incidents, harassment or unwarranted stops and arrests over the years.

Huffington Post

Still, overwhelming is overwhelming.

The New York Times - Arts

Mining companies are contesting hundreds of citations, creating a backlog that is overwhelming government officials.

Huffington Post

The review heard from many people who had claimed PIP, and the overwhelming theme was "the impact of delays and backlogs".

The Guardian

We are a fast growing tech company with a deep product backlog, high growth on our core Web and email offerings and an overwhelming desire to invest in our customer understanding and in our technology.

TechCrunch

The America Invents Act, which I co-sponsored and which passed the Senate in March by an overwhelming 95-5 vote, would end fee diversion and give PTO the ability to reduce the 700,000-long backlog of patent applications awaiting consideration.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelming backlog" when you wish to underscore the sheer volume and potentially unmanageable nature of the accumulated tasks or items.

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming backlog" when a simple "delay" or "shortage" would suffice. "Overwhelming" implies a crisis-level accumulation, not just a temporary setback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming backlog" functions as a noun phrase, where "overwhelming" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "backlog". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overwhelming backlog" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a large, often unmanageable accumulation of pending tasks or items. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is correct. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, including news, science, and business, typically to convey a sense of strain or difficulty. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly specifies the nature of the backlog to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "substantial accumulation" or "significant pileup" may offer more formal or nuanced expressions, depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmanageable accumulation

Highlights the difficulty in managing the backlog.

substantial accumulation

Replaces "overwhelming" with "substantial" and "backlog" with "accumulation", focusing on the quantity.

significant pileup

Uses "pileup" instead of "backlog", suggesting a chaotic accumulation.

massive accumulation of pending tasks

More descriptive, specifying tasks are pending.

extensive queue

Emphasizes the ordered nature of the backlog as a "queue".

huge inventory of unprocessed items

Replaces "backlog" with a more descriptive phrase.

considerable volume of pending work

Highlights the amount of work that is pending

large number of outstanding cases

Focuses on "cases" that are outstanding and not yet resolved.

critical mass of unfinished projects

Emphasizes the urgency related to the unfinished projects.

excessive number of uncompleted items

Directly states that there is an excess of items not completed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "overwhelming backlog" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using "substantial accumulation", "significant pileup", or "unmanageable accumulation" to convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

What are the common causes of an "overwhelming backlog"?

An "overwhelming backlog" can arise from various factors, including sudden increases in demand, insufficient staffing, inefficient processes, or unexpected disruptions.

Is it appropriate to use "overwhelming backlog" in a positive context?

While "overwhelming backlog" typically carries a negative connotation, it can be used in a positive light when referring to high demand or popularity. However, ensure the context clarifies this positive aspect.

How does "overwhelming backlog" differ from "regular backlog"?

The key difference lies in the scale and impact. A "regular backlog" represents a manageable number of pending items, whereas an "overwhelming backlog" signifies a much larger, potentially unmanageable accumulation that can cause significant delays and stress.