Difference between Access and Excess
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Excess, on the other hand, refers to more of something that is needed, i.e. excessive. Oxford Dictionaries defines ‘excess’ as “An amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable.” For example, “There is an excess of fun at this party.” Or “The three-layer cake was an excess.” In both cases, the sentence describes something that there was too much of.
Another difference between the two terms is that access is primarily used as a noun or a verb. For example, “The access to the room was closed off.” Here the word is used as a noun. Another example, “Can you help me access the file on the computer?” Here the term is used as a verb. However, in both cases the meaning of the word remains the same. It refers to the ability for "entry" or "admission" or "approach" to something.
Whereas, excess can also be used as a noun, but it can able be used as an adjective, i.e. to define something. When used as a noun, excess means something that is more than enough. When used as an adjective it describes the amount of something as too much. For example, as a noun, it would be used as “We've had an excess of snow this week”, whereas as an adjective, it would be used as “We decided to give the excess food to the homeless.”
A simple way to differentiate between the two words is to associate the word “access” with being “accessible”, whereas remember that “excess’ means “excessive” or “extra.”
Comparison between Access and Excess:
Access | Excess | |
Definition (Oxford Dictionaries) | The means or opportunity to approach or enter a place | An amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable. |
Description | The ability for "entry" or "admission" or "approach" to something or someplace. | Too much of, excessive |
Type | Noun, Verb | Noun, Adjective |
Etymology | Middle English (in the sense ‘sudden attack of illness’): from Latin accessus, from the verb accedere ‘to approach’ | Late Middle English: via Old French from Latin excessus, from excedere ‘go out, surpass’ |
Example | My apartment has easy access to the garden. I have a VIP pass with access to the backstage. He has an access of emotion at the end of the movie. The house is easy to access. Only high officials have access to The Prime Minister. | I sold the entire inventory so there is no excess left. We've had an excess of snow this week. We decided to give the excess food to the homeless. Excess of anything is bad. Do not drink to excess. |
Reference: Oxford Dictionaries (Access and Excess), Soft Schools, Writing Explained, English for Students Image Courtesy: cenetrionline.org, merinews.com
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