a plate of

USAGE SUMMARY

'a plate of' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a dish served on a plate, usually as part of a meal. For example: "I had a plate of spaghetti for dinner last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A plate of beige arrives.

Independent

He mentioned a plate of sashimi.

The New York Times - Food

It was like a plate of rubber.

Independent

He orders a plate of smoked salmon.

The New York Times

"Tasting a plate of pasta is easy.

The New Yorker

A plate of pasta?

The New York Times - Food

"A plate of sour grapes".

The New York Times

So a plate of "hairgrips and DentuFix" is, essentially, a plate of experience, a plate of pain.

The Guardian - Books

Dinner is a plate of macaroni.

The Washington Post

And, always, a plate of white beans.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A plate of ham was around $2.50.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a meal, specify the type of food that is on "a plate of" something to give a clearer picture of what you're talking about. Instead of saying "a plate of food arrived", say "a plate of pasta arrived".

Common error

Avoid using "a plate of" metaphorically when it doesn't literally involve food on a plate. For instance, instead of saying "he handed me a plate of problems", use "he presented me with a series of problems" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a plate of" functions primarily as a determiner phrase followed by a noun, specifying the quantity or serving of something, usually food. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples showing it modifying different types of food.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a plate of" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a serving of food presented on a plate. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate in a wide range of contexts, from formal news articles to informal conversations. While alternatives like "a serving of" or "a dish of" exist, the best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. Avoid using "a plate of" metaphorically when not referring to food. Overall, this phrase is a reliable and versatile way to describe food portions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a serving of

Replaces "plate" with the more general term "serving", focusing on the amount of food.

a dish of

Uses "dish" instead of "plate", indicating a specific culinary preparation.

a portion of

Emphasizes the quantity of food being offered.

a helping of

Highlights the act of providing food to someone.

a platter of

Suggests a large, shareable quantity of food.

a bowl of

Specifies the container used for serving the food.

an order of

Common in restaurant contexts, indicating food requested from a menu.

a taste of

Indicates a small sample or preview of the food.

some

A general term to indicate an unspecified amount of food.

food serving

A concise way to describe the action, especially in cooking recipes.

FAQs

How can I use "a plate of" in a sentence?

Use "a plate of" to describe a serving of food presented on a plate. For example, "She served "a plate of pasta" for dinner."

What are some alternatives to saying "a plate of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a serving of", "a dish of", or "a portion of".

Is it correct to say "a plate with" instead of "a plate of"?

While "a plate with" can be used to describe what's on a plate, "a plate of" is more common and idiomatic when referring to food. "A plate with decorations" is appropriate, but "a plate of cookies" is better than "a plate with cookies".

What's the difference between "a plate of" and "a bowl of"?

"A plate of" generally refers to food served on a flat dish, while "a bowl of" indicates food served in a bowl. For example, "a plate of nachos" versus "a bowl of soup".