unduly lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unduly lengthy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively long or more lengthy than is necessary or appropriate. Example: "The report was criticized for being unduly lengthy, making it difficult for readers to grasp the main points."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(14) In order to ensure legal certainty for market players, appeal bodies should carry out their functions effectively; in particular, appeals proceedings should not be unduly lengthy.

European Parliament

Member States shall ensure that the merits of the case are duly taken into account, that there is an effective appeal mechanism and that proceedings before the appeal body are not unduly lengthy.

European Parliament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Such a review is typically handled by Ofcom, but the committee believes that using the media regulator would lead to an "unduly protracted" process that could take years, resulting in a "lengthy period of uncertainty" for broadcasters and advertisers.

The Guardian

Some writers actually revel in the ambiguity of this relationship, avoiding giving lengthy physical descriptions so as not to unduly influence the reader's own imagination.

The New York Times

GPs were concerned that trapped sounded unduly threatening and at the same time demanded detailed, lengthy and unnecessary explanation and so was avoided by some GPs although patients wanted to use it.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Because Rule 7012 provides that the defendant's time to answer the complaint is calculated from the date the summons is issued, a lengthy delay between issuance and service of the summons may unduly shorten the defendant's time to respond.

Cornell University

In a pair of lengthy opinions, Scheindlin said that the government had violated the material-witness law, by holding Awadallah too long and under unduly harsh conditions.

The New Yorker

Unduly targeted?

The New Yorker

Some say unduly so.

The New York Times

That seems unduly pessimistic.

The Economist

This was unduly painful.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing processes or documents, use "unduly lengthy" to politely suggest they're longer than necessary, implying inefficiency or redundancy.

Common error

While "unduly lengthy" is correct, overuse in simple contexts can sound pretentious. Choose simpler alternatives like "too long" or "unnecessarily long" in informal writing.

Linguistic Context

"Unduly lengthy" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its length. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and serves to emphasize that something is excessively or inappropriately long. The word "unduly" acts as an adverb intensifying the adjective "lengthy."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Formal & Business

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unduly lengthy" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe something that is excessively long or protracted. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not exceedingly common, it appears in diverse contexts, including formal business documents, news articles, and scientific publications. When employing "unduly lengthy", consider the context and choose simpler alternatives like "too long" or "unnecessarily long" for informal communications. Understanding its function and potential alternatives ensures effective and appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively long

Focuses on the excessiveness of the length.

unduly prolonged

Uses "prolonged" instead of "lengthy", keeping the "unduly" modifier.

unnecessarily protracted

Highlights the lack of necessity for the extended duration.

excessively protracted

Emphasizes the excessiveness of the protraction.

inordinately long

Uses "inordinately" to express the unusual length.

unreasonably prolonged

Stresses that the length is without a reasonable basis.

overly extended

Indicates an extension beyond what is acceptable or normal.

gratuitously lengthy

Suggests the length serves no real purpose.

needlessly long

Similar to unnecessarily protracted, focusing on the lack of need.

unwarrantedly long

The length is not justified or deserved.

FAQs

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

Use "unduly lengthy" to describe something that is unnecessarily or excessively long. For example: "The report was criticized for being an "unduly lengthy" document, making it difficult to extract key information."

What are some alternatives to "unduly lengthy"?

Alternatives include "excessively long", "unnecessarily protracted", or "inordinately long". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "unduly lengthy" a formal or informal expression?

"Unduly lengthy" is generally considered a more formal expression. In informal contexts, using "too long" or "unnecessarily long" may be more appropriate.

What does "unduly" mean in the context of "unduly lengthy"?

In this context, "unduly" means excessively or inappropriately. It emphasizes that the length is beyond what is reasonable or necessary.