undue burden

USAGE SUMMARY

"undue burden" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone or something has been made responsible for a burden that is too great for them to handle. For example, "The teacher felt an undue burden of responsibility for her students' success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What's an "undue burden"?

The New Yorker

An "undue burden" in 1992 looked very different from an "undue burden" fifteen years later.

The New Yorker

If that's not an undue burden, I don't know what an undue burden is".

The Guardian

We don't want to put an undue burden on enterprise.

Cornell University

Marc thinks fretting about cleaning is "an undue burden".

The New York Times - Magazine

But that "undue burden" was not well defined.

The Washington Post

Critics say it's an undue burden on students.

The Washington Post

v. Casey that states may not create an undue burden on women seeking an abortion.

Columbia University

The continuance of foreign troops in Austria is an undue burden on her economy.

Yale University

If the law fails, you never have to get into the more cumbersome undue burden analysis.

Harvard University

And yet, justices still found that it was not an undue burden.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "undue burden" to describe situations where the burden is not only heavy but also inappropriate or unjustified. This emphasizes the unfairness of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "undue burden" as a generic term for any difficulty. Be specific about why the burden is excessive or inappropriate. For instance, instead of vaguely stating that regulations are an "undue burden", explain which regulations are problematic and how they disproportionately affect the involved parties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undue burden" primarily functions as a noun phrase that acts as the object of a verb or preposition, describing something that imposes an excessive or inappropriate difficulty. Ludwig AI shows how it is commonly used in legal and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "undue burden" is a commonly used phrase that describes an excessive or inappropriate imposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, including legal discussions, news reports, and academic analyses. When writing, ensure you provide sufficient context to clarify the nature and impact of the burden. Alternatives like "unnecessary hardship" or "unjustifiable imposition" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary hardship

Focuses on the difficulty caused, rather than the appropriateness of the burden.

unjustifiable imposition

Highlights the lack of justification for the burden being placed.

excessive strain

Emphasizes the pressure and effort required as a result of the burden.

disproportionate demand

Indicates that the demand or expectation is out of balance with what is reasonable.

inordinate pressure

Stresses the unusual or exceptional degree of pressure applied.

unreasonable expectation

Focuses on the unfairness of what is being expected.

gratuitous obligation

Highlights that the obligation is uncalled for and unnecessary.

onerous responsibility

Emphasizes the burdensome and troublesome nature of the responsibility.

unwarranted encumbrance

Suggests that the burden is not justified or deserved.

undeserved disadvantage

Indicates that the burden places someone in an unfairly unfavorable position.

FAQs

How is "undue burden" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "undue burden" is commonly used to describe a situation where someone or something is subjected to an excessive, inappropriate or unjustifiable imposition. For example, "The new regulations placed an "undue burden" on small businesses".

What are some alternatives to "undue burden"?

Alternatives to "undue burden" include "unnecessary hardship", "unjustifiable imposition", or "excessive strain". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is something considered an "undue burden"?

An "undue burden" exists when the demands or requirements placed on someone or something are disproportionate to the expected benefits or the capacity to manage them, often implying an unfair or inappropriate imposition.

How does "undue burden" relate to legal contexts, especially in discussions about abortion rights?

In legal contexts, particularly concerning abortion rights, "undue burden" refers to restrictions that place a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion. The Supreme Court has used the "undue burden" standard to evaluate the constitutionality of state laws regulating abortion procedures.