unduly complicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unduly complicated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is unnecessarily complex or difficult to understand. Example: "The instructions for assembling the furniture were unduly complicated, making it hard for anyone to follow them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The idea seemed messy and unduly complicated.

The New York Times - Health

And the rules can be unduly complicated.

The New York Times - Sports

It would have unduly complicated Figure 2 to attempt to show all of these; chlorine, however, has been shown entering at several places.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The menu's brisk shorthand gives dishes one-word names — chicken, pork, lettuce — as if to remind us that terrific dining need not be unduly complicated.

The New York Times

A pappardelle with cauliflower is unduly complicated by the addition of raisins and dehydrated-pine-nut wafers, which taste no better than they sound.

The New Yorker

Dr. Teng Kwong Yeoh, senior manager for product innovation at Singapore Airlines, noting that similar seating is already offered in Virgin Atlantic Airways's Upper Class, said this one was unduly complicated.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Far too often, guerrilla wars have festered for years, unduly complicating the process of reconciliation.

The New York Times

"Most Western economists are very dubious about making workers' rights a part of the trade regime, as this would unduly complicate trade negotiations," he writes.

The New York Times - Books

The Algerian fighters control a number of rural regions at night, but it would unduly complicate our already tangled international life to recognize day & night governments for any portion of the globe.

The New Yorker

Henceforth, we focus on the case ({N^{f}_{1}}={N^{f}_{2}}) as it brings out the essential ideas without unduly complicating the development and loss of generality.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

First and foremost, it unduly complicates public discourse on chances, risks and limits of PM: if the meaning of a term like PM is not clearly defined, it is trivially impossible to debate questions of its matter as well as its (future) handling.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unduly complicated" to objectively describe a process, system, or explanation that is more complex than necessary. Avoid using it when subjective preferences for simplicity are involved; ensure the complexity genuinely hinders understanding or efficiency.

Common error

Avoid using "unduly complicated" to describe something that is merely unfamiliar or requires some effort to understand. Ensure that the subject truly possesses superfluous complexity, rather than a simple learning curve.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unduly complicated" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or concept to indicate that it is unnecessarily or excessively complex. Ludwig AI highlights that its usage is grammatically correct. The adverb "unduly" intensifies the adjective "complicated", emphasizing the unwarranted nature of the complexity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unduly complicated" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term used to describe something that is unnecessarily complex. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for expressing that a process, system, or explanation involves unwarranted levels of intricacy. Its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. When using "unduly complicated", ensure that the complexity is genuinely hindering, not simply unfamiliar, and consider using alternatives like "unnecessarily complex" or "overly complex" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessarily complex

Focuses more on the lack of necessity in the complexity.

overly complex

Emphasizes the excessiveness of the complexity.

needlessly intricate

Highlights the lack of need for such detail and complexity.

excessively elaborate

Points out the over-the-top and unnecessary level of detail.

gratuitously complex

Suggests the complexity serves no real purpose.

unjustifiably intricate

Similar to needlessly intricate, focuses on the lack of a good reason.

inordinately convoluted

Describes something that is excessively twisted and difficult to follow.

disproportionately complex

Highlights that the complexity is out of proportion with what is required.

undesirably complex

Emphasizes the negative impact of the complexity.

extraneously detailed

Focuses on the unnecessary addition of details that complicate the matter.

FAQs

What does "unduly complicated" mean?

The phrase "unduly complicated" means unnecessarily complex or intricate. It suggests that something is more complicated than it needs to be, often causing confusion or difficulty.

How can I use "unduly complicated" in a sentence?

You can use "unduly complicated" to describe systems, processes, or explanations that are unnecessarily complex. For example, "The instructions were "excessively complicated" and difficult to follow".

What are some alternatives to saying "unduly complicated"?

Alternatives to "unduly complicated" include "unnecessarily complex", "overly complex", or "needlessly intricate". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "unduly complicated" or "excessively complicated"?

Both "unduly complicated" and "excessively complicated" are correct and can be used interchangeably. "Excessively complicated" might emphasize the degree of complexity, while "unduly complicated" emphasizes that the complexity is unwarranted.