well in excess

USAGE SUMMARY

"well in excess" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is greater than an expected or typical amount. For example, "The company's profits this year were well in excess of our expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For Australia the figure is well in excess of 90.

The Guardian - Sport

"It was well in excess of anything a label could do".

The New York Times

How many trucks were required to transfer well in excess of 200 girls?

The Guardian - Opinion

"We felt it would bring well in excess of $100,000".

The New York Times

"Despite picking up salaries well in excess of £30,000, their attendance could never be guaranteed".

The Guardian

Industry insiders suggested any bid would have to be well in excess of £600m.

The Guardian - Business

Maxim has achieved figures well in excess of 2m this year, double its 1999 circulation.

The Guardian

Three cities Baku, Tʿbilisi (Tiflis), and Yerevan each have populations well in excess of one million.

Britannica

It can perform operations and information well in excess of what a human can do.

The Washington Post

On the open market, Brosius would command well in excess of $5 million.

The New York Times - Sports

The value of the transaction was well in excess of $84‐million.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "well in excess" to emphasize a significant surplus or degree beyond a specified amount. It adds weight to your statement and clarifies the magnitude of the excess.

Common error

Avoid using "well in excess" when the actual difference is marginal. This phrase implies a substantial difference, and using it for minor variations can weaken your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well in excess" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the extent to which something exceeds a given amount or limit. Ludwig AI confirms its usability as a descriptor for quantities greater than expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "well in excess" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize that something significantly exceeds a specified amount or expectation. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a grammatically sound phrase suitable for diverse contexts. It is considered correct and is frequently found in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business settings. To avoid misuse, ensure the actual difference is substantial rather than marginal. Alternatives like "significantly greater than" or "far beyond" can be used depending on the context. Remember to use it to add weight to your statement and clarify the magnitude of the excess.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably more than

Replaces "well in excess" with a direct comparison, emphasizing the significant difference in quantity.

significantly greater than

Highlights the substantial difference, focusing on the magnitude of the excess.

far beyond

Suggests a distance or limit that is greatly surpassed.

substantially over

Indicates an amount that is significantly above a given threshold.

appreciably higher than

Emphasizes that the amount is noticeably and considerably greater.

markedly exceeding

Focuses on the clear and distinct manner in which something surpasses a certain level.

substantially surpassing

Similar to markedly exceeding, but with a focus on outdoing a specified limit.

well over and above

Emphasizes the abundance of the amount, indicating it goes significantly beyond what is expected.

comfortably exceeding

Suggests that the amount surpasses a certain limit with ease.

easily surpassing

Similar to comfortably exceeding, but emphasizes the lack of difficulty in exceeding the limit.

FAQs

How can I use "well in excess" in a sentence?

You can use "well in excess" to describe something that significantly exceeds a specific amount or expectation. For example, "The project's costs were "considerably more than" the initial budget."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "well in excess"?

Alternatives include phrases like "significantly greater than", "far beyond", or "substantially over", depending on the context.

Is "well in excess of" formal or informal?

"Well in excess of" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase. It can be used in various contexts, including business, news, and academic writing.

What's the difference between "in excess" and "well in excess"?

"Well in excess" emphasizes a greater degree of surplus or difference compared to simply "in excess". It suggests a more substantial and noticeable amount.