sounds excessive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sounds excessive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that something appears to be more than what is necessary or reasonable. Example: "The amount of paperwork required for this project sounds excessive and could be streamlined."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

And one museum is open until 2am, which sounds excessive until you hear its name - Le Musée de l'Erotisme.

The Guardian - Travel

This sounds excessive but they came in handy when it rained a few days in a row and I couldn't find a dryer.

The New York Times

And if talk of evil, rather than the merely criminal, sounds excessive, consider Tuesday's closing speech by one of Trump's former fellow candidates, Ben Carson.

The Guardian - Opinion

If investment is lower and GDP higher than official figures suggest, then investment may really account for 36-40% of economic output, says Ms Liang.Capital punishment?That still sounds excessive.

The Economist

The cut you will see now runs to a hundred and ninety-six minutes, but, if that sounds excessive, count yourself lucky; the total footage filmed ran to three hundred and seventy hours.

The New Yorker

Gabler takes more than eight hundred pages to tell and note his tale, which sounds excessive, but then Disney himself was a model of unflagging thoroughness, and, as Thumper would say, if you can't do nice annotations, then don't do nuthin' at all.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

He thought twenty buckets sounded excessive.

The New Yorker

This bleak accumulation of details may sound excessive, but Loach is only just beginning.

The New Yorker

The distances run by the Welsch girls sounded "excessive" to him.

The New York Times - Sports

Francesa attacked ferociously with facts and attitude, which can sound excessive because Layden, courteous but underinformative, never bit back.

The New York Times - Sports

The price might sound excessive, but his yearlings sold for an average of $1.68 million apiece in 2001, providing a return on investment any day trader would relish.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sounds excessive" when you want to express a subjective judgment about something being more than what is necessary or appropriate. Ensure the context provides enough information for the reader to understand why it seems excessive.

Common error

While "sounds excessive" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "appears unwarranted" or "seems disproportionate" in professional or academic writing to maintain a more objective tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sounds excessive" functions as a subjective assessment. It expresses an opinion about something perceived as being beyond what is necessary or reasonable. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is often used to evaluate plans, requests, or amounts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sounds excessive" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express that something appears to be beyond what is necessary or reasonable. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media contexts. While generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional settings. The phrase serves to express a subjective evaluation and can be used to question the appropriateness of something. Ensure the context makes it clear why something "sounds excessive" to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems over the top

This alternative uses different words to convey the idea of something being beyond what is necessary.

appears unreasonable

This alternative focuses on the lack of reason or justification.

seems disproportionate

This alternative suggests an imbalance or lack of proportion.

appears unwarranted

This alternative highlights the lack of justification or need for something.

seems immoderate

This alternative implies a lack of restraint or moderation.

seems gratuitous

This alternative suggests something is unnecessary and possibly inappropriate.

seems extravagant

This alternative suggests excessive spending or lavishness.

appears extreme

This alternative indicates something is far from the norm.

seems surplus to requirements

This alternative is a more formal way of saying something is unnecessary.

appears inflated

This alternative suggests something is exaggerated or artificially increased.

FAQs

How can I use "sounds excessive" in a sentence?

You can use "sounds excessive" to express that something appears to be beyond what is reasonable or necessary. For example, "Requesting a five-hour interview "sounds excessive" for an entry-level position."

What's a less judgmental alternative to "sounds excessive"?

If you want to avoid sounding overly critical, you could use phrases like "seems like a lot" or "appears to be more than necessary" instead of "sounds excessive."

What's the difference between "sounds excessive" and "is excessive"?

"Sounds excessive" implies a subjective assessment based on initial information, whereas "is excessive" suggests a more definitive judgment based on complete information.

When is it appropriate to use "sounds excessive" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "sounds excessive" when you want to express an initial impression or reaction to something that appears to be too much or unreasonable, particularly in informal or semi-formal contexts.