a paper of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a paper of" is not correct and is not commonly used in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when referring to a specific type of paper or document, and the correct preposition should be "on" or "about." Example: "I wrote a paper on climate change for my environmental science class."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"UN summits only make a paper of principle," he said.

The Guardian - Tech

He was reading from a paper, of course.

The New Yorker

After 1945, Professor Tucker never submitted a paper of his own for publication in a journal.

The New York Times

Before Jasmine left, though, she wanted to draw up a paper of her own.

The New Yorker

What's the point of the editor of a paper of record not telling the truth?

The Guardian

As a way to solidify this code, Ochs developed the idea of a "paper of record".

The New Yorker

Le Monde is already a paper of the left, and has been harsh on Mr Sarkozy.

The Economist

G. (No Good)." Mr. Silverman started a paper of his own.

The New York Times

This talk is based on a paper of Koch-Smith-Tataru.

University of California, Berkeley

A paper of 5,000 words or more meets the writing needed for the senior requirement.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The Observer's legendary editor David Astor (1948-75) pioneered the notion of a quality Sunday newspaper and championed the notion of a 'paper of ideas'.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using prepositions like "on" or "about" instead of "of" when indicating the topic of a paper. For example, use "a paper on climate change" instead of "a paper of climate change".

Common error

Avoid using "of" to link a paper to its subject matter. Using "of" in this context is grammatically unconventional and can confuse readers. Always opt for "on" or "about" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a paper of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase where "paper" is the noun and "of" attempts to link it to a related topic or description. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is generally grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

30%

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "a paper of" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The intended purpose is to link a paper to its subject matter, but standard English prefers phrases like "a paper on" or "a paper about". Despite its common occurrence, especially in academic and news contexts, writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and credibility. Therefore, using "a paper of" is generally discouraged in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a paper on

Replaces "of" with "on" to indicate the topic of the paper, which is grammatically more standard.

a paper about

Uses "about" to specify the subject matter, providing a clear and common alternative.

a study of

Substitutes "paper" with "study" to denote a research-based document.

a report on

Employs "report" to indicate a formal document detailing findings or observations.

an article on

Replaces "paper" with "article", suggesting a published piece of writing.

research paper on

Clarifies that the "paper" is specifically related to research, enhancing specificity.

scientific paper on

Specifies the "paper" as being scientific, indicating its field of study.

a document on

Uses "document" as a broad term that can replace "paper" in many contexts.

a discussion of

Focuses on the content being a discussion, often more appropriate than "paper" in certain contexts.

an analysis of

Highlights that the "paper" contains an analysis of a particular subject.

FAQs

How should I correctly use the phrase in reference to academic work?

While "a paper of" is sometimes seen, it is best to use alternatives like "a paper on" or "a paper about". For instance, "I wrote "a paper on" quantum physics" is preferable to "I wrote a paper of quantum physics".

What are some alternatives to "a paper of"?

Instead of "a paper of", you can use phrases such as "a paper on", "a paper about", "a study of", or "a report on" depending on the context.

Is "a paper of" grammatically correct?

Generally, "a paper of" is considered grammatically incorrect when referring to the subject of the paper. Standard English prefers phrases like "a paper on" or "a paper about".

When might "a paper of" be appropriate?

The phrase "a paper of" might be acceptable when referring to something that is made from paper, for example "a paper of origami". However, for academic or research papers, using "on" or "about" is the standard and more precise construction.