unduly strict

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unduly strict" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe rules, regulations, or standards that are excessively harsh or severe. Example: "The new policy is unduly strict, making it difficult for employees to meet their targets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

In some cases, doctors have found ways to get around what they consider unduly strict rules on procedures and prescriptions.

The New York Times

Existing design guidance has been developed based on the limited experimental results and conservative assumptions, generally leading to unduly strict slenderness limits.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

If that seems unduly strict, you could require him to make explicit that he doesn't expect a response until the next day or after the weekend.

Harvard Business Review

The ECB has not distinguished itself as a good judge of monetary policy, but this is partly because it has set itself an unduly strict operational target for inflation: it aims for inflation of 2% or less (rather than the Bank of England's 2.5%, with a margin above and below).Third, Europe's inept Stability and Growth Pact should be improved, preferably to the point where it ceases to exist.

The Economist

Ramos found that the legislators not only pushed the law through in a "virtually unprecedented" way, but also the law's requirements were "unduly strict".

Vice

Fabric's statement comes as Islington Police Commander Nick Davies told BBC Radio 1 this morning that the police's move to close Fabric was not a "vendetta" related the club's successful 2015 legal appeal against unduly strict licensing conditions.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The Observer's literary editor, William Skidelsky, said that it would be "unduly rigid" to attempt to enforce "a strict 50/50 division of genders on the Observer's books pages", but added that he does "try to ensure each week that there is a decent male-female spread in terms both of the authors we cover and the people we get to review them".

The Guardian - Books

There are a number of direct moral criticisms made of strict equality principles: that they unduly restrict freedom, that they do not give best effect to the moral equality of persons, that they conflict with what people deserve, etc. (see the sections on Libertarian Principles, and Desert-Based Principles, and the entry on equality).

SEP

He also argued that a strict interpretation of the proposed ordinance could be unduly burdensome for the district, since it might require special permits before school facilities could be made available for community meetings as required by state law.

Los Angeles Times

Although this does limit the number of genes we identify through strict orthology identification in some taxa, we do not believe that it has unduly biased our results for several reasons.

Genome Biology and Evolution

With a strict definition of AMI, it is unlikely that misclassification of AMI has occurred, which would unduly bias VE calculations.

Heart

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing a rule or policy, use "unduly strict" to convey that the rule is excessively harsh or rigid, providing specific examples to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "unduly strict" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "too strict" or "very harsh" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unduly strict" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is excessively or inappropriately severe. Ludwig AI confirms this usage as grammatically correct and applicable across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

23%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unduly strict" is a grammatically sound and useful way to describe rules or standards that are excessively harsh or rigid. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for formal and neutral contexts, such as news articles, academic papers, and professional communications. While not extremely common, its use is well-established, particularly in discussions of policies and regulations. When using this phrase, ensure that the context supports the claim that the strictness is indeed excessive, and consider providing specific examples to strengthen your argument. Be mindful of the register, opting for simpler alternatives like "too strict" in informal settings. Alternative phrasing exists in forms like "excessively rigid" or "overly severe", but these each contribute a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Excessively rigid

Emphasizes the inflexibility and lack of adaptability.

Overly severe

Highlights the harshness and intensity of the strictness.

Unreasonably stringent

Focuses on the lack of justification for the strictness.

Inordinately rigorous

Suggests a level of strictness that is beyond what is necessary or appropriate.

Needlessly harsh

Points out that the strictness is not only severe but also unnecessary.

Overly demanding

Focuses on the high expectations and requirements imposed.

Unwarrantedly severe

Highlights that the strictness is not justified by the circumstances.

Immoderately strict

Emphasizes the lack of moderation in the strictness.

Extremely inflexible

Emphasizes the rigidity and lack of willingness to compromise.

Unacceptably rigorous

Suggests that the strictness is so high as to be unacceptable or inappropriate.

FAQs

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

You can use "unduly strict" to describe rules, regulations, or policies that are excessively harsh or severe. For example, "The regulations regarding data protection are "unduly strict", making it difficult for small businesses to comply".

What are some alternatives to "unduly strict"?

Alternatives include "excessively rigid", "overly severe", or "unreasonably stringent". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "unduly strict" a formal or informal expression?

"Unduly strict" is generally considered a more formal expression. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "too strict" or "very harsh" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "strict" and "unduly strict"?

"Strict" simply means following rules or standards closely. "Unduly strict" implies that the rules or standards are excessively harsh or severe, going beyond what is reasonable or necessary.