a piece of documentary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a piece of documentary" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to a specific segment or portion of a documentary film or series, but it is more typical to say "a documentary" or "a piece of documentary film." Example: "After watching a piece of documentary on climate change, I felt inspired to take action."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

So what was intended to be simply a piece of documentary photography has resulted in so much more for me.

The Guardian - Opinion

He soon found the story of James, born in Llangollen, north Wales, and decided it should be a piece of documentary theatre.

The Guardian

IN 2002, while he was making "Capturing the Friedmans," his investigation of a notorious child-abuse prosecution on Long Island, the director Andrew Jarecki received a piece of documentary wisdom.

The New York Times

Although Mr. Chong's work often deals with dark subjects — he created a piece of documentary theater out of the stories of child war refugees — in person he is cheerful and effusive.

The New York Times

Armour and Sagastume, along with four other Falklands veterans, have been brought together by Argentinian theatre-maker Lola Arias to create Minefield, a piece of documentary theatre co-commissioned by the London international festival of theatre.

The Guardian

This film may miss some of its targets as a piece of documentary filmmaking, but in the final analysis gives us a human, if flawed, window into the experience of an individual.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

A haunting piece of documentary film footage from these months, taken from a Red Cross barge moving down a canal behind the lines, shows hundreds of Allied soldiers stripped completely bare, wading, bathing, or sunning themselves on the canal bank, smiling and waving at the camera.

Huffington Post

But this is still a compelling piece of documentary television.

The New York Times - Arts

It's a remarkable piece of documentary film-making.

The Guardian - Film

Montgomery to Memphis," a brilliant piece of documentary filmmaking created by Ely Landau and shown for only one night, in 1970.

The New Yorker

Not for the faint of heart, "Architects of Denial" nonetheless is a critical piece of documentary cinema that cannot be marred by any resistance.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a documentary, consider using "documentary film" or "documentary feature" as more common and natural-sounding alternatives to "a piece of documentary".

Common error

Avoid using "a piece of documentary" excessively in your writing. While grammatically correct, it can make your writing sound stilted. Opt for more concise options like "a documentary" or rephrase to emphasize specific aspects like "a segment of the documentary".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a piece of documentary" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to a specific segment, aspect, or work within the documentary genre. Ludwig AI explains it's grammatically correct but can sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a piece of documentary" is a grammatically acceptable phrase used to denote a section or work within the documentary genre. However, Ludwig AI analysis suggests that it can sound somewhat awkward, with alternatives like "a documentary film" or "documentary feature" often preferred. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts and has an uncommon usage frequency. Consider the stylistic implications before incorporating it into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a documentary film

Replaces "piece of" with "film", emphasizing the format, and is semantically very similar.

a documentary feature

Substitutes "piece of" with "feature", highlighting the comprehensive nature of the documentary.

a documentary segment

Specifies that it's part of a larger documentary work, focusing on a specific portion.

a work of documentary

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the documentary aspect as a form of work.

a documentary production

Highlights the creation aspect of the documentary, referring to it as a produced item.

a documentary program

Indicates the documentary as a scheduled broadcast or part of a series.

a slice of documentary

Uses "slice" to indicate a portion or aspect of the documentary.

a bit of documentary

Replaces "piece" with "bit", indicating a small portion.

documentary footage

Focuses specifically on the filmed material used in a documentary.

a documentary account

Emphasizes the informational and narrative quality of the documentary.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "a documentary film", "a documentary feature", or "a documentary segment" depending on the context.

Is "a piece of documentary" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a piece of documentary" is grammatically correct, but it can sound awkward. Ludwig AI suggests that while technically valid, it is more common to simply say "a documentary".

How to use "a piece of documentary" in a sentence?

You can use "a piece of documentary" to refer to a specific portion or segment of a documentary film. For example, "After watching a piece of documentary on climate change, I felt inspired to take action."

What is the difference between "a piece of documentary" and "a documentary"?

"A documentary" refers to the film genre or work as a whole. "A piece of documentary" suggests a fragment, portion or segment of a documentary work.