a heavy tome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a heavy tome" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large, weighty book, often one that is scholarly or serious in nature. Example: "The library was filled with ancient texts, but none were as daunting as the heavy tome that lay on the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is a heavy tome, utterly devoid of insight, warmth, wisdom or likeability.

Independent

It is a heavy tome, utterly devoid of insight, warmth, wisdom or likeability," writes Gill.

The Guardian - Books

It is a heavy tome, devoid of insight, warmth, wisdom or likeability.

The Guardian - Books

The prime minister has also taken a heavy tome – Simon Sebag Montefiore's Jerusalem: The Biography.

The Guardian

A A Gill said Morrissey's book was a "heavy tome, utterly devoid of insight, warmth, wisdom or likeability" and added that should an editor start cutting it "there would be no stopping".

Independent

The 130 novels we read are a fraction of what was published this year and it's always possible we missed a good one, even a heavy tome or populist book not submitted by their publishers.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Soon he founded his own newsletter, Westminster Confidential, and a companion publication, the regularly updated Parliamentary Profiles, as well as a heavier tome, The Business Background of M.P.'s, which gave many in Britain their first detailed glimpse into the interlocking worlds of business and politics that were then, and to some extent still are, free of close parliamentary scrutiny.

The New York Times

"To be honest," he said of the heavy tome, "it was a bit of a slog.

The Guardian - Books

He immediately dismissed any such questions as "psycho-babble". When I persisted in knowing more about his father, Netanyahu stood up and lifted off the book shelf behind his desk a heavy historical tome written by his father, Ben-Zion Netanyahu. Ben-Zion Netanyahu

HuffPost

Yet, had he done so, the book would soon have outgrown the limits of a compelling survey for all readers and become yet another heavy tome for the specialist.

Los Angeles Times

Lord knows when packing for a trip like this the last thing you need is another heavy tome.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a heavy tome" when you want to emphasize not only the size of a book, but also its serious or scholarly nature. For lighter or more casual contexts, consider alternatives like "a large book" or "a thick volume".

Common error

Avoid using "a heavy tome" when describing lighter reading material. This phrase is best reserved for academic, historical, or otherwise serious works. Using it to describe a simple novel can sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a heavy tome" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "heavy" is an adjective modifying the noun "tome". It describes a specific type of book characterized by its size and weight. Ludwig provides examples where it is used to describe both literal and figurative weight.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a heavy tome" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that effectively describes a large, substantial book, often one that is scholarly or serious. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently found in News & Media and Academia. While the phrase is relatively uncommon, its use is generally appropriate in neutral to formal contexts. For lighter, more casual situations, consider alternatives like "a large book". When describing a large, scholarly book, "a heavy tome" evokes both size and intellectual weight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a weighty tome

Emphasizes the substantial weight and importance of the book.

a large volume

Focuses on the physical size of the book.

a substantial book

Highlights the significant content and size.

an extensive work

Focuses on the comprehensiveness and length of the writing.

a massive book

Emphasizes the large size, possibly suggesting it's overwhelming.

a lengthy treatise

Suggests a formal and detailed academic work.

a doorstop of a book

An informal way to describe a very large and heavy book.

a brick of a book

Informal and emphasizes the book's heaviness and size.

a thick volume

Focuses on the physical thickness of the book.

a comprehensive study

Emphasizes the thorough and detailed nature of the book's content.

FAQs

How to use "a heavy tome" in a sentence?

You can use "a heavy tome" to describe a large and substantial book, often one that is scholarly or serious in nature. For example: "The researcher consulted "a heavy tome" on ancient civilizations for her dissertation".

What can I say instead of "a heavy tome"?

You can use alternatives like "a weighty tome", "a large volume", or "a substantial book" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a heavy tome"?

"A heavy tome" is appropriate when referring to a large, dense, and often academic or scholarly book. It's less suitable for describing lighter or more casual reading materials.

What is the difference between "a heavy tome" and "a large book"?

While both phrases describe the size of a book, "a heavy tome" implies not just size, but also substance and seriousness. "A large book" simply refers to physical dimensions, whereas "a heavy tome" suggests intellectual weight and complexity.