a deck of cards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a deck of cards" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a standard set of playing cards used in various card games. Example: "We gathered around the table to play poker with a deck of cards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Imagine holding a deck of cards.

MIT Technology Review

A Bible 2. A deck of cards.

The New Yorker

Have you ever tried to order a deck of cards?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Come to my casino, and bring a deck of cards.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is smaller than a deck of cards.

The New York Times

All I needed was a deck of cards.

The New York Times

"I'm a devil with a deck of cards.

The Guardian - Sport

It's about the size of a deck of cards.

The New Yorker

He has me unwrap a deck of cards.

The New York Times - Magazine

There was a deck of cards on the table.

The Guardian - Books

A deck of cards was cut on Thursday evening.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions for a card game, explicitly state "a deck of cards" or "a standard 52-card deck" to avoid confusion about the type of cards needed.

Common error

Don't assume everyone understands the term "deck of cards". If writing for a general audience, define it as a set of 52 playing cards to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a deck of cards" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it used in various contexts, from describing games to illustrating concepts like entropy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

28%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a deck of cards" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to a set of playing cards. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous examples across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Wiki sources. The phrase is generally neutral in register and serves to describe recreational activities or illustrate abstract concepts. Related phrases include "a pack of playing cards" and "a set of cards", offering alternative ways to express the same idea. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by defining it for audiences unfamiliar with card games.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pack of playing cards

Replaces "deck" with "pack" and includes "playing" for clarity.

a standard deck of cards

Specifies that the deck is a standard 52-card deck.

a complete deck of cards

Emphasizes the completeness of the deck.

a full deck of cards

Similar to "complete", highlighting that all cards are present.

a set of cards

Uses "set" as a more generic term for a collection of cards.

a playing card set

Reorders the words and uses "set" instead of "deck".

a stack of playing cards

Focuses on the physical arrangement of the cards.

a collection of cards

A more general term for a group of cards.

the cards for a game

Implies the existence of a deck of cards within the context of a game.

52 playing cards

Specifies the number of cards in a standard deck.

FAQs

How to use "a deck of cards" in a sentence?

You can use "a deck of cards" to describe a set of playing cards used for various games. For example, "We used "a deck of cards" to play poker".

What can I say instead of "a deck of cards"?

You can use alternatives like "a pack of cards", "a set of playing cards", or simply "playing cards" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a deck of card" instead of "a deck of cards"?

No, it should be "a deck of cards" (plural) because a deck contains multiple cards. "A card" refers to a single playing card.

What's the difference between "a deck of cards" and "a house of cards"?

"A deck of cards" refers to the physical set of playing cards. "A house of cards" is an idiom that describes a situation or structure that is unstable and likely to collapse.