Cool MateExcess vs Redundancy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excess
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1noun
Redundancy
FormalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: RedundancyMost common: Redundancy
| Excess | Redundancy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈses/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈses/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //rɪˈdʌndənsi//🇺🇸 //rɪˈdʌndənsi// |
| Meaning | More than what is needed or allowed. | Having more than is needed; unnecessary repetition. |
| Example | The company was fined for producing an excess of waste beyond legal limits. | The report contained a lot of redundancy that made it hard to read. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | rhetorical, stylistic, verbal, avoid, contain, curb, in excess, to excess, large, slight, in excess of, excess of | avoid redundancy, semantic redundancy, job redundancy, redundancy payment, redundancy in language |
| Antonyms | deficiency, lack, insufficiency | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excess' as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'excess' with 'exceed' which has a different meaning., Using 'excess' without specifying what it refers to. | Confused with 'redundant' - 'redundancy' is a noun, while 'redundant' is an adjective., Using in an informal context - 'redundancy' is not commonly used in casual speech., Confusing redundancy in job contexts with redundancy in language. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excess' in both written and spoken contexts when discussing amounts. It's appropriate for formal discussions about health, finance, or resources but may sound overly technical in casual conversations. | Often used in formal contexts, particularly in business or technical discussions. Avoid using in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Excess vs Redundancy
What's the difference between Excess and Redundancy?
Excess: More than what is needed or allowed. Redundancy: Having more than is needed; unnecessary repetition.
Which is more formal: Excess and Redundancy?
Redundancy is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Excess and Redundancy?
Redundancy is the most common in everyday English.
Can I use Excess and Redundancy interchangeably?
Not always. Excess and Redundancy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.