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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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tedious and cumbersome

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tedious and cumbersome" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or process that is both boring and difficult to manage or execute. Example: "The paperwork involved in the project was tedious and cumbersome, making it hard to stay motivated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Furthermore, manual generation of meaningful vignettes is tedious and cumbersome, and generating such vignettes even in an automatic or semi-automatic fashion is a complex and challenging engineering task.

Without a complete genome, identification of the specific methylase for DNA modification to resist restriction enzymes in the host cells is typically a tedious and cumbersome trial-and-error exercise.

Science

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The design of such complexes, however, is a tedious and a cumbersome task.

Although the protocol itself is not novel, the methodology employed in its verification extends existing techniques by automating the tedious and usually cumbersome part of the proof, thereby making the iterative design process of protocols feasible.

But the process proved slow and cumbersome.

News & Media

The Economist

The process is slow and cumbersome.

News & Media

Forbes

The solution was slow and cumbersome.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Wim Wenders' The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez is an inert and exasperatingly supercilious two-hander: self-conscious, tedious, with a dated and cumbersome theatricality, tricked out in a 3D presentation that adds nothing to its dull stereoscopic tableaux of an idealised French garden outside Paris.

However, their solutions are very lengthy and cumbersome making the whole algorithmic process extremely tedious and complex.

IT is typically big and cumbersome.

News & Media

The New York Times

Earlier batteries were too expensive, and cumbersome.

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process as "tedious and cumbersome", provide specific examples of what makes it so. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "tedious and cumbersome" repeatedly in the same piece of writing. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms or more descriptive phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

4.4/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tedious and cumbersome" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to describe a quality or characteristic. Ludwig examples show it being used to describe tasks, processes, and systems.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tedious and cumbersome" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, indicating something that is both boring and difficult to handle. Ludwig shows that this phrase is used across various contexts, including science, news, and business. While the phrase is considered acceptable, it's advisable to use it judiciously and consider alternatives to prevent repetition. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides examples of its usage.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

laborious and unwieldy

Replaces "tedious" with "laborious" implying hard work and "cumbersome" with "unwieldy" suggesting difficulty in handling.

burdensome and wearisome

Substitutes "tedious" with "wearisome", focusing on the tiring aspect, and "cumbersome" with "burdensome", highlighting the heavy load.

tiresome and awkward

Replaces "tedious" with "tiresome" indicating causing one to feel tired and "cumbersome" with "awkward" focusing on the difficulty in dealing with something.

monotonous and unwieldy

Uses "monotonous" in place of "tedious" to emphasize the lack of variety, while retaining "unwieldy" to convey difficulty in handling.

dull and clumsy

Replaces "tedious" with "dull" indicating lack of interest and "cumbersome" with "clumsy" suggesting lack of skill or grace in handling.

wearying and inefficient

Substitutes "tedious" with "wearying" to emphasize the tiring aspect, and "cumbersome" with "inefficient", highlighting the lack of productivity.

protracted and difficult

Replaces "tedious" with "protracted", focusing on the lengthy duration, and "cumbersome" with "difficult", highlighting the lack of ease.

arduous and unmanageable

Substitutes "tedious" with "arduous" stressing the strenuous effort involved, and "cumbersome" with "unmanageable", emphasizing the difficulty in controlling.

irksome and complicated

Replaces "tedious" with "irksome" meaning annoying and "cumbersome" with "complicated" indicating a lack of simplicity.

dreary and ponderous

Substitutes "tedious" with "dreary" to highlight the depressing nature, and "cumbersome" with "ponderous", emphasizing the heaviness and slowness.

FAQs

What does "tedious and cumbersome" mean?

The phrase "tedious and cumbersome" describes something that is both boring and difficult to handle or manage. It often implies a process or task that is slow, complicated, and lacks interest.

What can I say instead of "tedious and cumbersome"?

You can use alternatives like "laborious and unwieldy", "burdensome and wearisome", or "tiresome and awkward" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How to use "tedious and cumbersome" in a sentence?

You might say, "The data entry process was both tedious and cumbersome, requiring hours of repetitive work" or "Navigating the bureaucracy proved to be a tedious and cumbersome task".

Is it redundant to use both "tedious" and "cumbersome"?

While both words share some semantic overlap, they emphasize different aspects: "tedious" highlights the boring, repetitive nature, while "cumbersome" emphasizes the difficulty and complexity in handling. Using both can strengthen the description.

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Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

4.4/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: