a piece of bread

USAGE SUMMARY

"a piece of bread" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to refer to a single portion of bread. For example: "I grabbed a piece of bread and started to butter it".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A piece of bread.

The New Yorker

"You always had a piece of bread.

The New York Times

Break off a piece of bread.

The New York Times

"May I have a piece of bread?" "You may have a piece of bread".

The New Yorker

("A piece of bread... is poetry," he once wrote).

The New Yorker

They will cut you up for a piece of bread.

The New York Times

We're living here and we have a piece of bread.

The New York Times - Magazine

You can't get by on a piece of bread".

The New Yorker

It's healthier than a piece of bread, which is pure sugar".

The New York Times

"One day we eat tomatoes; one day we eat a piece of bread.

The New York Times

"I could put the name Brooklyn on a magnet and a piece of bread," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a piece of bread" when referring to a single, distinct portion or serving of bread, especially when emphasizing its individual nature or scarcity.

Common error

Avoid using "a piece of bread" when referring to bread in a general sense. Instead, use "bread" without the article to discuss bread as a food staple or ingredient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a piece of bread" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. It denotes a single, identifiable portion of bread. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Reference

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"A piece of bread" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote a single portion of bread. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. While highly versatile, it's best used when specifying a particular portion rather than referring to bread in general. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, reflecting its widespread use in describing food, scarcity, or simple everyday actions. Related phrases like "a slice of bread" or "a bit of bread" offer subtle variations in meaning, providing writers with options to tailor their descriptions more precisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slice of bread

Replaces "piece" with "slice", implying a thin, flat portion.

a portion of bread

Replaces "piece" with the more formal "portion".

some bread

Uses "some" to indicate an unspecified quantity of bread.

a bit of bread

Uses "bit" to indicate a small amount of bread.

a morsel of bread

Replaces "piece" with "morsel", suggesting a small amount.

bread

Shortened form, removing the indefinite article and quantifier.

a loaf of bread

Refers to the whole bread instead of a portion of it.

bread ration

Implies a limited quantity of bread, often in times of scarcity.

a bread roll

Refers to a small, individual serving of bread.

bread crust

Specific part of the bread.

FAQs

How can I use "a piece of bread" in a sentence?

You can use "a piece of bread" to refer to a single serving or portion of bread. For example, "He ate "a piece of bread" with cheese" or "She offered him "a piece of bread" dipped in olive oil".

What can I say instead of "a piece of bread"?

Alternatives include "a slice of bread" (if it's a thin, flat portion), "a bit of bread" (if it's a small amount), or simply "bread" depending on the context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "a piece of bread"?

While grammatically correct, using "a piece of bread" might be less appropriate when discussing bread in general terms. In those cases, "bread" is usually preferable. For example, "Bread is a staple food" sounds more natural than "A piece of bread is a staple food".

What's the difference between "a piece of bread" and "a loaf of bread"?

"A piece of bread" refers to a single portion or slice taken from a larger loaf. "A loaf of bread" refers to the entire, usually uncut, block of bread.