Excess vs There's an extra __ in there
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excess
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1noun
There's an extra __ in there
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: There's an extra __ in there
| Excess | There's an extra __ in there | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈses/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈses/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeərz ən ˈɛkstrə ɪn ðeə//🇺🇸 //ðɛrz ən ˈɛkstrə ɪn ðɛr// |
| Meaning | More than what is needed or allowed. | There is something additional present. |
| Example | The company was fined for producing an excess of waste beyond legal limits. | There's an extra cookie in there for you. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (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 | extra charge, extra payment, extra work, extra time, extra mile |
| 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. | Using 'extra' without a noun following it., Misunderstanding 'extra' as only referring to physical objects. |
| 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. | Use in situations where something unnecessary or more than needed is included. It can be informal but is appropriate in most contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Excess vs There's an extra __ in there
What's the difference between Excess and There's an extra __ in there?
Excess: More than what is needed or allowed. There's an extra __ in there: There is something additional present.
Which is more common: Excess and There's an extra __ in there?
There's an extra __ in there is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Excess: The company was fined for producing an excess of waste beyond legal limits. There's an extra __ in there: There's an extra cookie in there for you.
Can I use Excess and There's an extra __ in there interchangeably?
Not always. Excess and There's an extra __ in there 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.