a fine copy

USAGE SUMMARY

"a fine copy" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a well-made or high-quality duplicate of something, such as a book or artwork. Example: "The museum proudly displayed their newest acquisition: a fine copy of a famous painting by Van Gogh."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

An Internet search turned up a fine copy for not much money and I have it still.

The New York Times - Books

I found a fine copy of the first English edition, published in Dijon, in 1922, in a run of two thousand copies.

The New Yorker

Worn copies without dust jackets of the first English edition of Kingsley Amis's Lucky Jim (1953) are fairly common, but they are of limited interest to the serious collector; however, a fine copy in dust jacket signed by the author is both scarce and desirable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"What fun is there in clicking," he asks, "compared to the pleasure of handling a fine copy of a rare book?" Indeed, the state of the art in used-book selling these days seems to be less about connoisseurship than about database management.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

If one of the screens shows a perfectly fine copy of the movie when it wasn't supposed to, Macrovision contacts the hardware manufacturer to plug the gap.

Forbes

Paper, too, has a future for the fine copy of the "Iliad", the women's fashion magazine and the memorable certificate.

The Economist

This ddPCR method provides the ability to scale the number of partitions by combining replicate wells to resolve fine copy number differences in heterogeneous mixtures and could foreseeably form the basis of more efficient diagnostic tests.

Analytical Chemistry

Included here are many kinds of copies, and their originals, from a fine Rembrandt etching, a copy, and copy of the copy, to a pair of near identical paintings by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Charles Fairfax Murray.

The New York Times

A new 30-second Romney campaign commercial called "Doing Fine" copies the music, pacing and script nearly verbatim from a 2008 Obama ad that took Senator John McCain to task for his well-known remark that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong".

The New York Times

As for de Forest's furniture, no one knows precisely how much was produced, a mystery that deepens when it becomes clear that none was labeled or marked, thus making it difficult to distinguish it from the often fine copies produced by competitors.

The New York Times

The finest copy of the Discobolus is in the National Roman Museum.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing historical documents or artwork, use "a fine copy" to convey that the reproduction is accurate and of high quality. For instance, "The archive contained a fine copy of the original manuscript."

Common error

Avoid using "a fine copy" when you actually mean the original. "Fine copy" indicates a reproduction, not the authentic item. To describe the original, use terms like "original", "authentic", or "genuine".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fine copy" functions as a noun phrase, where "fine" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "copy". According to Ludwig AI, it indicates that the copy is of high quality. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing books and movies.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a fine copy" describes a high-quality reproduction or duplicate of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It's most frequently found in news and media, encyclopedias and science, emphasizing the quality of the copy being described. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the duplicate nature and high standard of what you're referring to, avoiding its misuse in place of "original". Alternatives like "excellent reproduction" or "high-quality duplicate" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Near-perfect copy

Conveys that the copy is very close to the original, with only minor imperfections.

Excellent reproduction

Emphasizes the high quality of the copy.

Superior reproduction

Suggests the copy is made with better materials or techniques than a standard copy.

High-quality duplicate

Focuses on the accuracy and standard of the copy.

Exceptional duplicate

Highlights the rarity and quality of the copy.

Superb replica

Highlights the craftsmanship and detail in the reproduction.

Top-notch replica

Conveys the replica is of the highest quality and craftsmanship.

Impeccable imitation

Indicates that the copy is virtually indistinguishable from the original.

First-rate imitation

Indicates that the imitation is of a high standard.

Masterful forgery

Suggests a skilled and deceptive reproduction (use with caution).

FAQs

How can I use "a fine copy" in a sentence?

Use "a fine copy" to describe a high-quality reproduction of something, like a book, artwork, or document. For example, "The museum displayed a fine copy of the famous painting."

What are some alternatives to saying "a fine copy"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "excellent reproduction", "high-quality duplicate", or "superb replica".

Is "a fine copy" the same as the original?

No, "a fine copy" refers to a reproduction or duplicate. The original is the authentic item from which the copy was made.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a fine copy"?

Use "a fine copy" when you want to emphasize that a reproduction is of high quality and accurately represents the original. This is often used in discussions of art, literature, and historical artifacts.