Access vs. Excess — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 28, 2023
Access refers to the ability to enter or use something; excess signifies an amount more than necessary.
Difference Between Access and Excess
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Access involves the permission or ability to enter, reach, or use something, while excess refers to a quantity or degree that surpasses what is normal or sufficient.
Having access can lead to opportunities and usability, but excess often results in waste or problems due to its surplus nature.
Accessibility is key for inclusion and utility, contrasting with the potential burdens or complications caused by excess.
Providing access is often a deliberate act of enabling, while excess can result from lack of control or oversight.
Access improves functionality and reach, whereas excess can lead to imbalance and unnecessary complications.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Ability to enter or use
Amount more than needed
Implication
Opportunity, usability
Surplus, wastage
Outcome
Inclusion, functionality
Imbalance, complication
Origin
Enabling, provision
Lack of control
Context
Usability, entry
Surplus, overabundance
Compare with Definitions
Access
Right or opportunity to enter.
She gained access to the exclusive club.
Excess
Additional, unnecessary amount.
He carried excess luggage on his trip.
Access
Ability to use or benefit from.
The new software improved data access.
Excess
More than what's needed.
The project suffered from excess budget.
Access
Making something available.
The ramp provided access for wheelchairs.
Excess
Lack of moderation.
Excess consumption can lead to health issues.
Access
A means of approaching, entering, exiting, communicating with, or making use of
A store with easy access.
Excess
Overly abundant supply.
The market had an excess of goods.
Access
The ability or right to approach, enter, exit, communicate with, or make use of
Has access to the restricted area.
Has access to classified material.
Excess
The state of exceeding what is normal or sufficient
Rains that filled the reservoirs to excess.
Access
Public access.
Excess
An amount or quantity beyond what is normal or sufficient; a surplus
Sold most of the stoves and put the excess in the warehouse.
Access
An increase by addition.
Excess
The amount or degree by which one quantity exceeds another
Profit is the excess of sales over costs.
Access
An outburst or onset
An access of rage.
Excess
Intemperance; overindulgence
Drank to excess.
Access
To obtain access to, especially by computer
Used a browser to access a website.
Accessed her bank account online.
Excess
A behavior or action that exceeds proper or lawful bounds
Tried to avoid financial excesses such as buying expensive clothes.
Access
(uncountable) A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage.
Excess
Being more than is usual, required, or permitted
Skimming off the excess fat.
Access
(uncountable) The act of approaching or entering; an advance.
Excess
To eliminate the job or position of
Teachers who were excessed during the downturn.
Access
(uncountable) The right or ability of approaching or entering; admittance; admission; accessibility.
Excess
The state of surpassing or going beyond a limit; the state of being beyond sufficiency, necessity, or duty; more than what is usual or proper.
The excess of heavy water was given away to the neighbouring country.
Access
(uncountable) The quality of being easy to approach or enter.
Excess
The degree or amount by which one thing or number exceeds another; remainder.
The difference between two numbers is the excess of one over the other.
Access
(uncountable) Admission to sexual intercourse.
Excess
An act of eating or drinking more than enough.
Access
An increase by addition; accession
An access of territory
Excess
(geometry) Spherical excess, the amount by which the sum of the three angles of a spherical triangle exceeds two right angles. The spherical excess is proportional to the area of the triangle.
Access
(countable) An onset, attack, or fit of disease; an ague fit.
Excess
A condition on an insurance policy by which the insured pays for a part of the claim.
Access
(countable) An outburst of an emotion; a paroxysm; a fit of passion.
Excess
More than is normal, necessary or specified.
Access
The right of a noncustodial parent to visit their child.
Excess
To declare (an employee) surplus to requirements, such that he or she might not be given work.
Access
The process of locating data in memory.
Excess
The state of surpassing or going beyond limits; the being of a measure beyond sufficiency, necessity, or duty; that which exceeds what is usual or proper; immoderateness; superfluity; superabundance; extravagance; as, an excess of provisions or of light.
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,To throw a perfume on the violet, . . . Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
That kills me with excess of grief, this with excess of joy.
Access
Connection to or communication with a computer program or to the Internet.
Excess
An undue indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper moderation in natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation.
Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.
Thy desire . . . leads to no excessThat reaches blame.
Access
Or assent.
Excess
The degree or amount by which one thing or number exceeds another; remainder; as, the difference between two numbers is the excess of one over the other.
Access
(transitive) To gain or obtain access to.
Excess
A quantity much larger than is needed
Access
To have access to (data).
I can't access most of the data on the computer without a password.
Excess
Immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits
Access
A coming to, or near approach; admittance; admission; accessibility; as, to gain access to a prince.
I did repel his letters, and deniedHis access to me.
Excess
The state of being more than full
Access
The means, place, or way by which a thing may be approached; passage way; as, the access is by a neck of land.
Excess
Excessive indulgence;
The child was spoiled by overindulgence
Access
Admission to sexual intercourse.
During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown.
Excess
More than is needed, desired, or required;
Trying to lose excess weight
Found some extra change lying on the dresser
Yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant
Skills made redundant by technological advance
Sleeping in the spare room
Supernumerary ornamentation
It was supererogatory of her to gloat
Delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words
Extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts
Surplus cheese distributed to the needy
Access
Increase by something added; addition; as, an access of territory. [In this sense accession is more generally used.]
I, from the influence of thy looks, receiveAccess in every virtue.
Excess
Abundance beyond necessity.
Excess food was donated to the shelter.
Access
An onset, attack, or fit of disease.
The first access looked like an apoplexy.
Access
A paroxysm; a fit of passion; an outburst; as, an access of fury.
Access
The right to enter
Access
The right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something (as services or membership)
Access
A way of entering or leaving;
He took a wrong turn on the access to the bridge
Access
(computer science) the operation of reading or writing stored information
Access
The act of approaching or entering;
He gained access to the building
Access
Obtain or retrieve from a storage device; as of information on a computer
Access
Reach or gain access to;
How does one access the attic in this house?
I cannot get to the T.V. antenna, even if I climb on the roof
Access
Chance to approach or reach.
Remote areas had limited internet access.
Access
A way or method to approach.
The hidden path was the only access to the beach.
Common Curiosities
Can excess be beneficial?
In some contexts, but generally it's wasteful.
Is access always physical?
No, it can also be digital or conceptual.
Can access lead to excess?
Yes, if not managed properly.
Does everyone have equal access?
Ideally, but practically there are disparities.
Can excess ever turn into scarcity?
Yes, if resources are not managed properly.
Is excess always negative?
Generally, though context matters.
Can excess be reduced?
Yes, through moderation and control.
Does digital access require technology?
Yes, appropriate technology is essential.
Is access a right or privilege?
It varies; sometimes a right, other times a privilege.
Can excess be planned?
It's usually unplanned, resulting from overestimation.
Is access always immediate?
Not always; it can be gradual or restricted.
Does increased access improve quality of life?
Often, especially for essential services.
Does excess always imply wealth?
No, it can occur in various contexts.
Can excess be recycled or reused?
In many cases, yes, to reduce waste.
Can access be restricted?
Yes, for security or regulatory reasons.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
