unnecessary interruption

USAGE SUMMARY

"unnecessary interruption" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone or something is disrupting or preventing something, such as a conversation, without any valid reason. For example: "The meeting was going well until unnecessary interruptions from outside sources began to derail the conversation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The most recent lexical blends to enter the fray are Time magazine's "manterrupt" and "bropropriate" – the former blending man and interrupt to describe an unnecessary interruption of a woman by a man, often in the workplace, and the latter denoting the stealing of a woman's ideas and taking credit for them.

The Guardian

Manterrupting: Unnecessary interruption of a woman by a man.

The New Yorker

By Rosemary Counter October 19, 2016 Manterrupting: Unnecessary interruption of a woman by a man.

The New Yorker

And because they're at work so long, they spend a lot of time fooling around -- at the traditional lengthy lunch, for instance, which one sociologist deemed an "unnecessary interruption," or at a mid-morning coffee break.

The Washington Post

If we resist, if we don't fully breathe in or we don't fully breathe out, then there's an unnecessary interruption in that process.

Huffington Post

When a writer has a series of stories in progress such as "The Grant County" collection and the "Will Trent" books, the introduction of a stand alone novel can be seen as an unnecessary interruption.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Studies investigating the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have revealed frequent unnecessary interruptions of life support.

Resuscitation

This has a number of important consequences including unnecessary interruptions, escalating conflict and deterioration in interprofessional relationships.

International Journal of Medical Informatics

In the United States, more than $650 billion a year in productivity is lost because of unnecessary interruptions, predominately mundane matters, according to Basex.

The New York Times - Tech

Rosen, a professor emeritus and past chair of the psychology department at California State University, Dominguez Hills, communicated by email with MIT Sloan Management Review about what managers can do to minimize unnecessary interruptions for their staff.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

An article on Saturday about efforts to cut down on information overload in the workplace, using data from the research firm Basex, gave an incorrect estimate in some editions for the annual cost of unnecessary interruptions at work.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider whether "unnecessary interruption" is the most precise term, or if a synonym like "needless disruption" might better convey the specific nuance you intend. Ensure the interruption truly lacks justification, as overuse can weaken its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "unnecessary interruption" to describe minor or unavoidable delays. This phrase implies a significant and avoidable disruption, so reserve it for situations where the interruption genuinely hinders progress or causes notable inconvenience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unnecessary interruption" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a disruption that could have been avoided. The phrase is relatively straightforward in its grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unnecessary interruption" is a noun phrase used to describe avoidable disruptions, as determined through grammatical analysis and Ludwig AI. Its purpose is to highlight and often criticize a disruption that lacks justification. The phrase has a neutral register and appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, the phrase is relatively rare and writers should consider whether alternative phrasing, like "needless disruption" or "unwarranted intrusion", might provide greater precision. Finally, remember to reserve its use for significant and truly avoidable interruptions to maximize its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needless disruption

Replaces "interruption" with "disruption" and "unnecessary" with "needless", emphasizing the disturbance aspect.

gratuitous disturbance

Replaces both words with more formal synonyms, suggesting a more unwarranted disruption.

unwarranted intrusion

Emphasizes the invasive aspect of the interruption, portraying it as an unwelcome entry.

superfluous interference

Suggests the interruption is more of a meddling action that is not needed.

avoidable delay

Focuses on the consequence of the interruption, highlighting that it causes an unnecessary postponement.

uncalled-for disruption

Highlights the inappropriate nature of the interruption, suggesting it was not justified.

pointless intrusion

Emphasizes the lack of purpose or value in the interruption.

unessential break

Uses simpler vocabulary to convey the same meaning, suitable for more informal contexts.

extraneous halt

Suggests that the interruption is an external element that unnecessarily stopped something.

inadvisable suspension

Indicates that the interruption was not a good idea or well-considered.

FAQs

How can I use "unnecessary interruption" in a sentence?

You can use "unnecessary interruption" to describe a disruption that could have been avoided. For example, "The speaker lost their train of thought due to an unnecessary interruption from the audience".

What can I say instead of "unnecessary interruption"?

You can use alternatives like "needless disruption", "gratuitous disturbance", or "unwarranted intrusion" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "unnecessary interruption"?

While some interruptions are necessary, the phrase "unnecessary interruption" emphasizes that the particular event served no valid purpose and could have been avoided.

What's the difference between "unnecessary interruption" and "unwanted interruption"?

"Unnecessary interruption" implies the interruption lacked a valid purpose, while "unwanted interruption" suggests the interruption was unwelcome or undesirable, regardless of its necessity.