unnecessarily excessive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unnecessarily excessive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is more than what is needed or required, often implying that the excess is not justified. Example: "The report was filled with unnecessarily excessive details that obscured the main points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This would be unnecessarily excessive when other forms of complimentary notification exist".

The Guardian

The action scenes kept you hooked enough to want to read on and human emotions were explored in depth through the book (although Indie cried an unnecessarily excessive amount of times).

The Guardian

For some time past there has been a feeling — not confined to the men, but shared to some extent by the officers as well — that the work carried out on board British warships on Sundays is unnecessarily excessive.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The move is the latest by the medical community to acknowledge that many tests and procedures are performed unnecessarily, leading to excessive costs, false positives, additional testing and even harm to patients.

The New York Times

After an eight month investigation by attorneys from Harvard, Stanford and Rutgers, as part of the Protest and Assembly Rights Project, the group determined that the NYPD used unnecessarily aggressive tactics, excessive force, and illegally suppressed press freedoms during Occupy demonstrations.

Huffington Post

The result indicated that the reaction requires a very small volume of reagent for optimum color intensity or else the sample will be unnecessarily diluted by the excessive reagent volume.

Journal of Analytical Science and Technology

As that Times article demonstrates through Carl and his family's story, some prison terms are WAY too long, and excessive sentences unnecessarily handicap communities already in dire straits.

Vice

New York City police used unnecessarily aggressive tactics and excessive force against peaceful protesters and illegally suppressed press freedoms during the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, an eight-month investigation by a group of attorneys found.

Huffington Post

And then there are excessive regulations that unnecessarily increase costs for consumers and small businesses.

The New York Times

"I think I quite like you," he told Sara, as he entered her vagina that was unnecessarily described in terms of excessive moistness.

The Guardian - Books

However, unnecessarily tight tolerances lead to excessive manufacturing costs for a given application.

Computer-Aided Design

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unnecessarily excessive", consider whether the "unnecessary" aspect is already implied by "excessive". If so, using just "excessive" might be more concise and impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "unnecessarily excessive" when "excessive" alone suffices. The phrase can sound repetitive, weakening your writing. Opt for one word when it fully conveys your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unnecessarily excessive" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun. It emphasizes that something is not only beyond what is needed but also that this excess is not warranted. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound, reinforcing its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unnecessarily excessive" is used to describe something that goes beyond what is required in a way that is not justified. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct, but it also suggests that it can sometimes be redundant. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media sources. When writing, consider whether using just ""excessive"" is sufficient, as it often implies the "unnecessary" aspect already. Alternatives include ""needlessly redundant"" or ""superfluously abundant"", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Excessively superfluous

Combines both excess and superfluity for emphasis.

Needlessly redundant

Focuses on the redundancy aspect, implying the excess is pointless.

Superfluously abundant

Emphasizes the overabundance or surplus nature of something.

Unnecessarily lavish

The focus is on the excessive level of luxury or expense that is not required or justified.

Unwarrantedly lavish

Highlights the unjustified extravagance or luxury.

Superfluous to requirements

This suggests something exceeds what is needed, indicating an excess beyond what is functionally necessary.

Unjustifiably immoderate

Emphasizes that a certain level of excessiveness lacks reasonable justification.

Gratuitously extra

Suggests the excess is uncalled for and perhaps even unwelcome.

Uncalled-for extravagance

Highlights an unjustified overindulgence or wastefulness.

Over the top

More informal way to express that something is unnecessarily excessive.

FAQs

Is "unnecessarily excessive" redundant?

While grammatically correct, "unnecessarily excessive" can be seen as somewhat redundant since "excessive" often implies something is beyond what's needed. Using just "excessive" can be more concise.

What does "unnecessarily excessive" mean?

The phrase "unnecessarily excessive" describes something that goes beyond what is required or reasonable to an unneeded degree, implying that the excess is not justified or beneficial.

How can I rephrase "unnecessarily excessive" in formal writing?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "superfluously abundant" or "needlessly redundant" to convey a similar meaning with greater precision.

When is it appropriate to use "unnecessarily excessive"?

Use "unnecessarily excessive" when you want to emphasize both the excess and the lack of justification for it. However, be mindful of potential redundancy and consider whether "excessive" alone is sufficient.