wasteful overhead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wasteful overhead" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe unnecessary costs or expenses that do not contribute to the efficiency or productivity of a business or project. Example: "The company's financial report highlighted the issue of wasteful overhead, prompting management to seek ways to reduce unnecessary spending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's wasteful overhead, it's expensive and it's noxious.

The New York Times - Magazine

The new rule - called the medical-loss ratio - sets a minimum percentage of premiums (80% for individual and small group plans and 85% for large group plans) that insurers spend on actual medical care instead of wasteful overhead, excessive profits and bloated CEO salaries.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It is vital that we pursue efficiency and drive out the wasteful spending on government overheads to ensure squeezed resources can be sharply targeted on the frontline services people depend on.

The Guardian

We also must continue to tackle wasteful and duplicative spending, and overhead staffing.

The New York Times

The conventional approach -- the center-pivot sprinklers that create alienlike green crop circles in the middle of brown deserts (easily visible when flying overhead) -- is extremely wasteful, spraying water into the air where a major fraction evaporates..

Huffington Post

An application protocol selects the type of transport protocol to be used, based on the level of its specific requirements—it may choose to use a protocol that provides a higher level of function than it needs, but this is generally considered wasteful because the higher level of function requires a greater overhead in implementation and network resource usage.

The Internet and Its Protocols A Comparative Approach

8 For example, the Java prototype uses a humble and wasteful textual encoding of numbers, thus induces a huge lot of potentially avoidable string parsing overhead.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

In the shower, the shampoo and the conditioner are dispensed from large squirt-top containers, rather than small bottles — not wasteful, in my opinion — and the shower itself is fitted with three different shower jets: horizontal, overhead and hand held.

The New York Times - Travel

Because EGTS is too expensive and wasteful for the low data rate emergency, we showed the adequate number of emergency slots to reduce overhead.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Velly wasteful.

The New Yorker

"Our society is wasteful".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial efficiency, use "wasteful overhead" to clearly convey the idea of unnecessary expenses that drain resources from core activities. It is especially useful in business reports and economic analyses.

Common error

Avoid simply stating there is "wasteful overhead" without specifying which area it affects. Be specific, such as "wasteful administrative overhead" or "wasteful production overhead", to provide clarity and enable targeted solutions.

Linguistic Context

Wasteful overhead functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes unnecessary or inefficient expenses within an organization or project. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable in English, clarifying that it describes costs that do not contribute to productivity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wasteful overhead" is a phrase used to describe unnecessary and unproductive expenses. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English. Although not extremely common, it is primarily found in news and science-related contexts, carrying a neutral to professional tone. When using the phrase, ensure specificity by clarifying which area the wasteful overhead impacts (e.g., administrative, production). Alternatives like "unnecessary expenses" and "excessive administrative costs" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary expenses

Focuses on the lack of necessity rather than wastefulness, highlighting avoidable costs.

excessive administrative costs

Specifies the type of overhead as administrative, emphasizing the excess.

inefficient operating expenses

Highlights the inefficiency of the expenses, shifting the focus from waste to productivity.

needless operating costs

Similar to 'unnecessary expenses' but tailored towards operating costs.

redundant overhead

Emphasizes the duplication and lack of added value in the overhead.

superfluous overhead

Indicates that the overhead is beyond what is required or necessary.

unproductive overhead

Highlights the lack of productivity or benefit derived from the overhead costs.

non-essential costs

Emphasizes the non-essential nature of the costs, suggesting they can be cut without impacting core operations.

avoidable expenditures

Focuses on the ability to avoid these costs through better management or strategic decisions.

gratuitous expenses

Suggests the expenses are excessive and unwarranted, often implying a lack of justification.

FAQs

How can I use "wasteful overhead" in a sentence?

You can use "wasteful overhead" to describe unnecessary expenses in a business or organization. For example, "The company's financial report highlighted the issue of "wasteful overhead", prompting management to seek ways to reduce spending."

What are some alternatives to "wasteful overhead"?

Alternatives to "wasteful overhead" include "unnecessary expenses", "excessive administrative costs", or "inefficient operating expenses". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "wasteful overhead" a formal or informal term?

"Wasteful overhead" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it's most commonly used in business and financial discussions. In more casual settings, you might opt for a simpler phrase like "unnecessary costs".

What's the difference between "wasteful overhead" and "high overhead"?

"High overhead" simply indicates that overhead costs are significant, while "wasteful overhead" implies that those costs are not only high but also unnecessary and unproductive. In other words, "wasteful overhead" suggests mismanagement or inefficiency.