rather excessively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather excessively" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is done to an excessive degree, often in a somewhat formal or literary context. Example: "The project was rather excessively delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A last-second Red Arrows fly-by added to the sense of a long-awaited treat being rather excessively gilded with frippery.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Most new housing should be in urban communities, using medium rather than excessively low or high densities.

The Guardian

Probably their most unattractive consequence is the raft of business scandals that have surfaced in the past few years.Remember, though, that most of the corporate scandals concerned outright theft and corruption rather than excessively risky business plans.

The Economist

"It gives equity investors comfort that things will be predictable," said Jack Caffrey, equity strategist at the J.P. Morgan Private Bank, "rather than excessively rapid or destabilizing to the pace of the recovery, The Dow Jones industrial average added 3.20 points, or 0.03percentto to 10,317.20.

The New York Times

We also need our leaders and opinion-makers to amplify these initiatives and their implementation, rather than excessively hyping one dynamic but relatively tiny nonprofit organization.

Huffington Post

Practically, moderate (rather than excessively high or low) levels of optimism may be the best for outcome in chronic disease such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease [ 28] and something that clinicians can encourage when discussing potential treatments.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Exercising is also good because, when done in moderation rather than excessively, it can help you stop purging if you purge to lose weight.

WikiHow

Perhaps one simply can't describe what's so astonishing about "Potato Head Blues" — to me, it's that Armstrong has miraculously made a trumpet laugh — but someone who's thought about it as much as Teachout has should at least try, rather than leaning excessively (and pretentiously) on Woody Allen to do the job.

The New York Times - Books

Specifically, since the channel switch from offline to online hasn't yet really happened — which Siegel says it will eventually — he believes an IPO buys Marley Spoon enough time to grow the company at the same pace as the market for online grocery develops, rather than spending excessively on customer acquisition and other short term growth strategies.

TechCrunch

Hence rather than focusing excessively on the need to create payments for conservation, the aim should be on harnessing increased commitment of pastoralists to undertaking additional conservation efforts by mitigating the costs of doing so, and to formally acknowledge their already significant contribution to land resource stewardship (Curtis and Delacey 1998).

Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

I'd rather watch this excessively sweaty, obliviously inappropriate pair over official cheerleaders anytime -- if only to feel better about who I was in high school.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather excessively" to add a touch of understatement when describing something that is more than just excessive, but not to an extreme degree. It can soften criticism or add a nuance of polite disapproval.

Common error

Avoid using "rather excessively" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its somewhat formal tone can sound out of place and may come across as pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather excessively" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the degree to which something is excessive. As indicated by Ludwig, it qualifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, adding a nuance that suggests a notable but not extreme level of excess.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather excessively" is an adverbial modifier indicating a notable, but not extreme, degree of excess. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is rare, the phrase appears in diverse contexts ranging from news and media to scientific publications. It's best used in neutral to formal contexts to add a touch of understatement or mild disapproval. Remember to use it judiciously in informal settings to avoid sounding pretentious. Consider alternatives like "somewhat excessively" or "slightly excessively" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Somewhat excessively

Indicates a slightly lower degree of excessiveness than the original phrase.

Slightly excessively

Suggests a minor degree of being beyond what's normal or acceptable.

Moderately excessively

Implies a medium level of excessiveness.

Quite excessively

Offers a more emphatic tone than "rather excessively".

Unduly

Focuses on the inappropriateness or unjustified nature of the excess.

Overly

A more direct synonym, emphasizing that something is 'too much'.

Inordinately

A more formal term suggesting an exceeding of reasonable limits.

Extremely

Highlights the extreme degree of something, often replacing 'excessively'.

Disproportionately

Emphasizes the imbalance or lack of proportion.

Exceedingly

Indicates a very high degree, often used for emphasis.

FAQs

How can I use "rather excessively" in a sentence?

The phrase "rather excessively" is used to express that something is more than just excessive but not extremely so. For example, "The project was "rather excessively" delayed due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "rather excessively"?

You can use alternatives such as "somewhat excessively", "slightly excessively", or "quite excessively" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what kind of writing is "rather excessively" most appropriate?

The phrase "rather excessively" works best in formal or literary contexts. It's less suited for casual conversation where simpler language is preferable.

Is "rather excessively" the same as "very excessively"?

No, "rather excessively" implies a moderate degree of excess, while "very excessively" suggests a much higher, more pronounced degree. The first is an understatement compared to the second.