unnecessary number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unnecessary number of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity that is more than what is needed or required in a particular context. Example: "The report included an unnecessary number of charts that did not contribute to the overall analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Frank Baum: Creator of Oz" is as readable as it should be, since Rogers devotes an unnecessary number of pages to describing the books' complicated plots, but these passages are easily skipped over, and do little to mar what is essentially a strong and sympathetic portrait.

The New York Times - Books

Moreover, with the highest GDP per capita of any of the 32 qualifying nations, plus a total of 23 grand-slam singles titles in the past 17 years, there is absolutely no need for Switzerland to enjoy even the semblance of a World Cup run to distract them from other hobbies, such as questionable banking practices, looking at mountains, and speaking an unnecessary number of languages.

Independent

The user can mask the actual rating vector by asking the cloud for an unnecessary number of extra items.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

A modified two-stage ranking-selection procedure, a statistical method, is equipped to help compare the alternatives that have random performances and thus reduce unnecessary number of simulation replications.

Automation in Construction

That is an unnecessary number of squash courts.

Vice

Ready to go in and try to walk out again with a just an unnecessary number of pens, I feel a tap on my shoulder.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

To avoid unnecessary numbers of samples for achieving adequate power, variance of the measurement technique should thus always be well below biological variance.

BioMed Research International

Harmonization is unnecessary for number of surveillance components (but a private component is recommended), prevention, diagnostic method, and way of sampling – assuming that the diagnostic method and sampling matrix combination have sufficient validity.

Food Control

WASHINGTON -- Even as New York and New Jersey fend off criticism that their quarantine measures for health care workers returning from Ebola hot zones are medically unnecessary, a number of other states are moving in the same direction.

Huffington Post

Starting with a finer discretisation gives more modelling flexibility but using an unnecessary large number of parameters may also lead to more instability.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

This type II error overestimates the required sample size and leads to an unnecessary high number of dogs affected by OA to be recruited in the RCT.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unnecessary number of", ensure the context clearly indicates why the quantity is excessive. Providing specific examples can strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "unnecessary number of" when you simply mean a large quantity without implying it's excessive. For example, instead of saying "an unnecessary number of people attended the event", consider "a large number of people attended the event" if the attendance wasn't actually problematic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unnecessary number of" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It quantifies the noun, indicating an amount that exceeds what is required or useful. This is consistent with Ludwig AI analysis, which identifies the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unnecessary number of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that a quantity is excessive and unwanted. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and presence in a variety of sources. While relatively uncommon, this phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. When writing, use it to clearly convey criticism or disapproval of a quantity that exceeds requirements, but be mindful of the nuance it adds to your language. Related phrases such as "excessive quantity of" or "surplus of" can be used as alternatives, though the original phrase carries a specific emphasis on the lack of necessity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessive quantity of

Replaces "number" with "quantity" and "unnecessary" with "excessive", emphasizing the surplus.

overabundance of

Directly conveys the idea of having more than is needed.

needless amount of

Focuses on the lack of necessity for the specified quantity.

surplus of

Uses "surplus" to highlight the overabundance, simplifying the phrase.

redundant amount of

Substitutes "number" with "amount" and "unnecessary" with "redundant", stressing the superfluous nature.

inordinate quantity of

Stresses that the amount is beyond what is considered reasonable or normal.

unwarranted quantity of

Emphasizes that the amount is not justified or needed.

gratuitous number of

Highlights that the amount is excessive and uncalled for.

superfluity of

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal and concise term.

plethora of

Implies a large and possibly excessive amount, adding a slightly different nuance.

FAQs

How can I use "unnecessary number of" in a sentence?

You can use "unnecessary number of" to describe an excessive quantity that is not needed or useful, such as "The report included an "unnecessary number of charts" that did not contribute to the analysis".

What's a more formal alternative to "unnecessary number of"?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives like "superfluity of" or "redundant amount of" to convey the same meaning with greater sophistication.

Is it always negative to describe something as an "unnecessary number of"?

Yes, using "unnecessary number of" typically carries a negative connotation, implying that the quantity is excessive and undesirable. Therefore, the phrase is only correct when used with negative connotation.

What is the difference between "unnecessary number of" and "excessive number of"?

While both phrases suggest a quantity that is more than needed, "unnecessary number of" emphasizes the lack of requirement, while "excessive number of" simply highlights that the quantity is beyond what is considered normal or reasonable. They are often interchangeable, but the nuance differs slightly.