too big of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too big of" is considered informal and not standard in written English. It can be used in casual conversation but is best avoided in formal writing. Example: "The problem is too big of a challenge for us to handle." Alternative expressions include "too large a" and "too great a."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's too big of a problem"?

The Guardian

Be too big of a risk.

The New York Times - Sports

He wasn't too big of a sport.

The New York Times

"If you get too big of a bar scene . . .

The New Yorker

"And unfortunately he was too big of a risk.

Independent

"It's almost too big of a question to ask".

The Guardian - Music

"This is too big of a lie," he said.

The New York Times

In basketball, it's too big of a difference.

The New York Times - Sports

"It was just too big of an inning," Clemens said.

The New York Times - Sports

It was too big of a match to relax.

The New York Times - Sports

In the evaluations of most executives, he was too big of a risk.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too big of" in casual dialogue or creative writing to reflect natural, modern spoken English patterns.

Common error

Avoid using the article both before and after the adjective, such as "a too big of a deal". This creates a cluttered and incorrect sentence structure. Simply say "too big of a deal".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too big of" functions as an intensified adjective phrase where the preposition "of" acts as a connective to the following noun. According to Ludwig AI, this construction allows for the emphasis of size while bridging the adjective to the subject of the sentence. It is structurally similar to comparative idioms like "more of a" or "less of a".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academic

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "too big of" is a ubiquitous idiomatic construction in contemporary English. While traditional grammar often considers the "of" to be redundant, Ludwig AI shows its heavy presence in respected news outlets and general informational writing. It effectively communicates that something has exceeded a threshold, though writers aiming for a highly polished or academic tone should consider using "too big a" instead. The key takeaway is that while the phrase is widely accepted in common usage, being aware of the redundant preposition will help you adjust your register according to your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too big a

Removes the redundant preposition "of" for a more traditional and concise structure

too large a

Uses a more formal adjective while maintaining the standard grammatical order

too great a

Better suited for abstract concepts like risks or challenges

excessively large

A more clinical or technical alternative to the standard phrase

far too big

Adds emphasis without changing the informal register significantly

too massive an

Increases the intensity of the adjective for more dramatic effect

quite a large

Slightly shifts the meaning from exceeding a limit to simply being notable in size

too substantial an

More professional and weighted than the original colloquial version

oversized

A single-word alternative that is more direct but less versatile

beyond the scope of

Transforms the size description into a more professional contextual boundary

FAQs

Is it correct to say "too big of"?

While common in American English, it is often considered informal. For a more formal tone, you can use "too big a" or "too large a".

What is the difference between "too big a" and "too big of a"?

There is no difference in meaning. However, "too big a" is considered grammatically standard in formal writing, whereas "too big of a" is idiomatic and informal.

Can I use "too big of" in a business email?

It is better to avoid it in professional correspondence. Instead, try "too significant a" or "excessively large" to maintain a professional tone.

Why do people use the word "of" in this phrase?

The use of "of" is likely by analogy with phrases like "enough of a" or "more of a". It has become a standard feature of spoken English, even if redundant compared to "too big".