a snippet of text

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a snippet of text" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small portion or excerpt of written content, often in contexts like writing, editing, or discussing specific information. Example: "In her article, she included a snippet of text from the original source to support her argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It then passes back a snippet of text that contains a unique token.

The Economist

At the bottom was the address of AIPAC's Web site, and a snippet of text: "AIPAC is directly responsible for the overwhelming support this legislation received on the Hill.

The New Yorker

"Ford," from 2008, is a canvas with markings, like a dirty stucco wall, and a snippet of text silkscreened on the upper right-hand corner that reads: "He wasn't a fool.

The New York Times

Using it, a snippet of text as short as 20 characters can be assigned unerringly to the language it was written in.As a second test of the program's abilities, they used 52 versions of the document which, according to the "Guinness Book of Records", has been translated into more languages than any other in the world: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Economist

In Instapaper, the Notes feature allows users to select a snippet of text from an online article and then make comments next to that text.

TechCrunch

After all, if you want to share a snippet of text on Twitter, you're limited to 140 characters, which makes tweeting and commenting on news articles difficult.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Posting a snippet of a text exchange is already quite common on social networking sites like Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.

The New York Times

You can also create templates and shortcuts so that it auto-expands a small snippet of text into a polite support answer.

TechCrunch

Initial adopters ('seeds') are recruited primarily via online advertisements within Facebook that feature the app name, an app-related image and a short snippet of text advertising our free quit smoking app.

BMJ Open

Magnet links are not an actual file and are instead a small snippet of text.

WikiHow

"At most we show only a brief snippet of text where their search term appears, along with basic bibliographic information and several links to online booksellers and libraries," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical documentation, use "a snippet of text" to refer specifically to code samples or configuration details you're illustrating.

Common error

While "a snippet of text" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise terms like "excerpt", "passage", or "citation" for enhanced clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a snippet of text" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves to identify a small, representative portion of a larger body of text, as demonstrated by Ludwig. The Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a snippet of text" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig, that refers to a small portion of written content. It is most frequently found in news and media, and scientific contexts. While versatile, consider the formality of your writing; alternatives like "an excerpt" or "a quotation" may be more suitable for academic purposes. Remember to cite sources properly when using snippets to avoid plagiarism. Overall, it's a useful phrase for highlighting specific parts of larger texts, but the Ludwig AI suggests adjusting based on audience and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A fragment of text

Replaces "snippet" with "fragment", emphasizing the incomplete nature of the text.

A portion of text

Uses "portion" instead of "snippet", highlighting a specific part of a larger text.

An excerpt of text

Replaces "snippet" with "excerpt", suggesting a selected piece taken from a larger work.

A passage of text

Uses "passage" instead of "snippet", referring to a distinct section of the text.

A textual fragment

A more succinct synonym, omitting the 'of'.

A textual piece

A more succinct synonym, omitting the 'of'.

A short piece of writing

Broader description emphasizing the brevity of the written content.

A brief textual extract

More formal phrasing using "textual extract" instead of "snippet of text".

A small section of the document

Focuses on the location within a larger document.

A quotation from the text

Focuses on a direct quote, often used for illustrative purposes.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a snippet of text"?

You can use alternatives like "a fragment of text", "an excerpt of text", or "a passage of text" depending on the context.

How is "a snippet of text" typically used in technical writing?

In technical contexts, "a snippet of text" often refers to a small portion of code, a configuration file excerpt, or a command-line instruction used to illustrate a specific point or functionality.

Is "a snippet of text" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "a snippet of text" might be considered informal for high-level academic papers. Consider using terms like "a quotation", "an excerpt", or "a citation" to maintain a more formal tone.

What's the difference between "a snippet of text" and "a quote"?

"A snippet of text" is a general term for a small piece of text, whereas "a quote" or "a quotation" specifically refers to text directly attributed to a source and enclosed in quotation marks. The former is descriptive, the latter is for attribution.