painfully specific

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "painfully specific" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively detailed or precise, often to the point of discomfort or annoyance. Example: "The instructions were painfully specific, leaving no room for interpretation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But everything's fine!"' If the Omaha of "Election" was simply a bland every-burb, in "About Schmidt" Omaha feels startlingly, painfully specific: an empty city of watery blues and grays, the blank spot at the center of the map.

The New York Times - Magazine

The story Mr. Touré has chosen to tell is both painfully specific — about these individuals, in this boat — and immeasurably vast, since the experience it depicts is shared by millions of people around the world.

The New York Times

That's why communities of all colors, nationally and globally, must persist in reminding the nation with a clarion call that is at once painfully specific and universally transcendent: that Black Lives Matter even in a nation whose history and contemporary policy insists that they do not.

The Guardian - Opinion

To me, it felt like playing Dungeons & Dragons  — lots of painfully specific rules (now, roll a 20-sided die to figure out how charismatic you are!), but once you grok them, you feel powerful enough to go monster hunting.

TechCrunch

NFL rules  on the types of ball to be used are painfully specific: "The Ball must be a "Wilson," hand selected, bearing the signature of the Commissioner of the League, Roger Goodell, " the rule in question begins in a faintly ridiculous manner.

BBC

While her characters experience sex in a vague, nebulous way, viewing partners as a collective force, Schiff writes about loss in a way that's painfully specific.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

I know that sounds painfully obvious but specific islands are known for certain species and there are different things happening with different animals year round.

Huffington Post

The clinical course of the disease usually starts with unspecific symptoms like increasing exhaustibility, anorexia and weight loss, followed by specific symptoms of painfully swollen joints.

Health Economics Review

It is both specific, and vague, and painfully well-observed.

The Guardian - Music

Yet the special weaknesses amidst the superb wind section are painfully magnified: I won't be specific, but let's just say that during the Prologue to "Götterdämmerung" I could have used a hearty dose of Dramamine.

The New Yorker

Once in Minnesota, needing to have Kumiko walking along slushy streets, through snow-covered woods and across a frozen lake, the production was painfully dependent on the location providing a specific kind of weather.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "painfully specific" to emphasize that something is not just detailed but also possibly intrusive or tedious because of its specificity.

Common error

Avoid using "painfully specific" too often in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Consider varying your language with synonyms like "excessively detailed" or "overly precise" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "painfully specific" functions primarily as an adverb-adjective combination to modify a noun or concept. It intensifies the degree of specificity, suggesting it is excessively or uncomfortably detailed, as shown in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "painfully specific" is used to describe something excessively detailed, often to the point of being tedious or unwelcome. While grammatically correct, its frequency is uncommon. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, suggesting it fits best in neutral to informal contexts, such as news articles. When writing, be mindful of overusing this phrase; alternatives like "excessively detailed" or "overly precise" may offer a more nuanced or formal tone. Consider your audience and the desired level of formality when choosing to use "painfully specific" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively detailed

Focuses on the abundance of details, suggesting more information than necessary.

overly precise

Highlights the high degree of accuracy, potentially implying rigidity.

scrupulously exact

Emphasizes the careful and meticulous nature of the precision.

meticulously thorough

Highlights the completeness and attention to detail.

laboriously detailed

Suggests that the level of detail was achieved with great effort.

minutely particular

Focuses on the very small details.

uncomfortably precise

Highlights that the precision might cause slight dissatisfaction.

exceedingly explicit

Focuses on the clarity and directness of the information.

aggravatingly meticulous

Emphasizes that the details are highly precise in an annoying way.

needlessly thorough

The alternative conveys that more details are added than necessary.

FAQs

What does "painfully specific" mean?

The phrase "painfully specific" describes something that is excessively detailed or precise, often to the point of being uncomfortable, tedious, or annoying. It suggests that the level of detail is unnecessary or unwelcome.

How can I use "painfully specific" in a sentence?

You can use "painfully specific" to describe instructions, rules, or descriptions that leave no room for interpretation and may feel overly meticulous. For example, "The contract included "excessively detailed" clauses about liability."

What are some alternatives to "painfully specific"?

Alternatives to "painfully specific" include "excessively detailed", "overly precise", or "meticulously thorough", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "painfully specific" in formal writing?

While "painfully specific" is grammatically correct, it carries a somewhat informal tone due to the use of "painfully". In formal contexts, consider using "more formal alternatives" such as "scrupulously exact" or "meticulously thorough".