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Joseph A Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Superfluous

Hello everyone,

Is it OK to use the adjective "superfluous" if a person is more than needed in a group as follows?

- One person is superfluous.

Regards,

JA

  

Top answer

Joseph A One person is superfluous. No, that's not a proper use of 'superfluous'. As written it sounds to me as if even one person is too many, and that no people at all would be better.

— CalifJim

  • Joseph A One person is superfluous.
  • No, that's not a proper use of 'superfluous'.
  • As written it sounds to me as if even one person is too many, and that no people at all would be better.
  • Also, 'superfluous' tends to trivialize, and it's somewhat rude to apply it to people, as if they were unnecessary or worthless.
  • One definition of 'superfluous' that I found online says "serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being".
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1 Answers
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Joseph AOne person is superfluous.

No, that's not a proper use of 'superfluous'. As written it sounds to me as if even one person is too many, and that no people at all would be better.

Also, 'superfluous' tends to trivialize, and it's somewhat rude to apply it to people, as if they were unnecessary or worthless.

One definition of 'superfluous'

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