too much to accept

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too much to accept" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that a situation or piece of information is overwhelming or difficult to come to terms with. Example: "The news of his sudden departure was too much to accept for the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But Singer also knows too much to accept that innocence.

The New York Times - Books

If the errors of today are too much to accept, we may have to give up some of the advantages of innovation.

The New York Times

"To some, the resultant burden on their family and loved ones seemed too much to accept, and, anecdotally, some actually developed 'do not resuscitate' pacts with their battle buddies in the event of this type of injury," the report, by the Army Dismounted Complex Blast Injury Task Force, said.

The New York Times

"Would you agree with me, Bishop Egan," the lawyer pressed, "that if one person, one individual, has been affected by the sexual abuse of a clergy member, when that person was a child, that that's far too much to accept in any diocese?" "It would not be a significant portion of the diocese," he replied.

The New York Times

She said: "With only three member directors to be elected to a board of 11, it is surely not too much to accept the right of members to decide by democratic vote, in the true co-operative tradition, which of the six candidates they supported for the ballot paper, should be elected.

The Guardian - Business

This is, I would suggest, to TS Eliot's quest for the "still point of the turning world" in "Burnt Norton", another major work that resonates with eastern thought, although Bonnefoy has said he loves the world too much to accept Buddhism's radical void.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Tony was elevated in 1986 to assistant editor but the Robert Maxwell era was too much to bear and he accepted a redundancy package.

The Guardian

It was one thing for us to cope with baggy, malformed women when Scott Fitzgerald was around to cheer us on...it's too much to ask us to accept girls whose pelvis appears to start just below the chin and look as though they had been hacked out of an old elm stump.

The New Yorker

Gaddafi had been abandoned by almost everyone he had empowered, and many of those who remained simply had too much to lose by accepting the inevitable demise of the regime.

The Guardian

Intensive, last-gasp talks have been under way since March 26th in Lausanne, and it seems that all sides have too much invested to accept failure.Just what will be agreed is still unclear.

The Economist

As a result, retailers have tried to keep their shelves filled with enough but not too much, and to accept that one month may be better than the last for no apparent reason.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too much to accept", ensure the context clearly defines what specific aspect is overwhelming. This adds clarity and impact to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "too much to accept" in casual conversation where simpler alternatives like "unacceptable" or "intolerable" might be more appropriate. This maintains a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too much to accept" functions as a qualifier, expressing that something exceeds the limits of what can be tolerated or agreed upon. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples illustrate its use in contexts ranging from personal burden to political concessions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

13%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too much to accept" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable expression used to describe something that is overwhelming or intolerable. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly frequent, its usage is consistent across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure that the specific aspect being described as "too much" is well-defined. Consider simpler alternatives like "unacceptable" or "intolerable" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unacceptable

Single word alternative that suggests the thing is not able to be accepted.

intolerable

Highlights the inability to tolerate or endure something.

more than one can bear

Emphasizes the burden or difficulty in enduring a situation.

too difficult to stomach

Uses a metaphor to suggest something is unpleasant and hard to accept.

impossible to consent to

Focuses on the inability to give approval or agreement.

beyond the pale

Indicates something is outside the bounds of what is acceptable.

out of the question

Indicates something is not to be considered or allowed.

inadmissible

Suggests something cannot be allowed or accepted, often in a formal context.

unthinkable

Implies something is so extreme that it cannot be considered.

cannot be countenanced

Formal way of saying something cannot be approved or supported.

FAQs

How to use "too much to accept" in a sentence?

You can use "too much to accept" to express that something is overwhelming or difficult to come to terms with. For example, "The burden was "more than one can bear", "too much to accept"."

What can I say instead of "too much to accept"?

Alternatives include "unacceptable", "intolerable", or "more than one can bear" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "too much to accept" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider your audience and the specific tone of your writing. In some cases, a more direct or concise alternative like "unacceptable" may be preferable.

What's the difference between "too much to accept" and "too much to bear"?

"Too much to accept" focuses on the inability to agree with or come to terms with something, while "too much to bear" emphasizes the difficulty in enduring something. They are similar but highlight different aspects of the situation.