unnecessary remarks

USAGE SUMMARY

"unnecessary remarks" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You might use it to describe/criticize comments in a conversation that are unhelpful or stray away from the intended topic. For example, "Stop making unnecessary remarks and stay on topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"He might have spared those unnecessary remarks about poor Hudson, which have brought blame on him for want of prudence and caution". Emily Hudson, Charles Hudson's wife, felt the same.

The Guardian - Books

But the cattiness and ridiculous attention that comes from their unnecessary remarks about our nation's first black president only distracts from the cause.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Today, Jung's theory is so widely understood that it seems near-unnecessary to remark that Traylor's powers of universal vision may be explained by his heightened capacity for rendering the archetypes of character, behavior and ritual that link him in terms of neurological predisposition and cultural aptitude with an array of artists throughout history and the world.

HuffPost

Mr. Chen has said such a step is unnecessary, but recent remarks by his vice president, Annette Lu, have led China to unleash threats.

The New York Times

The American newspaper The New York Times enjoyed Phantom Hourglass for the most part, but complained about the timer in the Temple of the Ocean King as unnecessary and gimmicky, remarking that the game's dungeons are only "fun to go through once, but none of them are fun enough to go through 20 times".

Wikipedia

"Such provocative remarks are unnecessary and misguided," he said.

The New York Times

Many believed that No 10 felt that Mr Murray's remarks drew unnecessary attention to the moral flaws in an important logistical alliance.

The Guardian

Thus, it is unnecessary to dissect the remarks of the trial judge in order to determine whether he construed § 343 to ban the distribution of books merely because certain of their passages, when viewed in isolation, were deemed objectionable.

Cornell University

To say any more is unnecessary, other than to remark that Levin's comic sense is sometimes overlooked and that this is a work meant for the theatre.

The Guardian

In a country fraught with divisions over how to create the jobs and security necessary to make mass migration unnecessary, opposition to Trump's remarks has provided rare unity.

The Guardian

When Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castaneda used colloquial terms to describe Cuban officials as angry over Mexico's condemnation of human rights abuses in Cuba, Ms. Sahagun tried to distance President Fox from the remarks by calling them "unnecessary".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing someone's communication, use "unnecessary remarks" to point out comments that detract from the main message. This emphasizes the lack of value in those specific additions.

Common error

Avoid using "unnecessary remarks" too frequently, as it can sound repetitive and critical. Vary your language to provide more nuanced feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unnecessary remarks" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies and categorizes comments that are considered superfluous or irrelevant to the topic at hand. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unnecessary remarks" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe superfluous or irrelevant comments. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is acceptable in written English. Although the phrase is relatively rare, its presence in news and academic contexts lends it a degree of formality. When using this phrase, consider alternatives like "gratuitous comments" or "redundant comments" for a more nuanced critique. Aim to use it judiciously in your writing to avoid sounding overly critical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needless comments

Stresses the lack of necessity in the remarks.

gratuitous comments

Focuses on the uncalled-for nature of the comments.

redundant comments

Highlights the repetitive nature of the statements.

superfluous comments

Emphasizes the extra and unneeded aspect of the remarks.

pointless comments

Draws attention to the lack of a clear goal in the statements.

unwarranted comments

Highlights the lack of justification for the remarks.

extraneous comments

Emphasizes that the comments are not essential or relevant.

unsolicited opinions

Focuses on the fact that the views were not asked for.

irrelevant comments

Stresses the lack of connection to the topic at hand.

unhelpful comments

Highlights the lack of assistance provided by the statements.

FAQs

How to use "unnecessary remarks" in a sentence?

You can use "unnecessary remarks" to describe comments that are irrelevant or unhelpful in a discussion. For example, "His speech was filled with "unnecessary remarks" that distracted from the main point."

What can I say instead of "unnecessary remarks"?

You can use alternatives like "gratuitous comments", "redundant comments", or "superfluous comments" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unnecessary remarks" or "unnecessary remark"?

"Unnecessary remarks" is used when referring to multiple comments. "Unnecessary remark" refers to a single instance. For example, "His last remark was "unnecessary remark"." but "He made many "unnecessary remarks" during the meeting."

What's the difference between "unnecessary remarks" and "offensive remarks"?

"Unnecessary remarks" are comments that are not needed or add no value, while "offensive remarks" are comments that are likely to insult or cause upset. An unnecessary remark may not be offensive, and vice versa.