a spare copy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a spare copy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an additional or backup version of a document or item. Example: "I always keep a spare copy of my important documents in case the original gets lost."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

I left with a spare copy of the clarinet part of the Tchaikovsky with the word "Drucker" written on the last page.

The New York Times

I always carry a spare copy in case I find someone hasn't discovered her, though you must be the last person in London.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He had made such a statement before at debates, and Politifact and anyone with a spare copy of the 9/11 Commission Report had rated it false.

The New Yorker

Dan can be forced to turn over a "spare" copy of his secret key to a third party, either private or governmental, who will only allow it to be used under certain circumstances.

The Washington Post

Now in the final year of his Ph.D., Talboys joined the SRC in 2002 to work on calibrating a spare copy of the XRS in the lab, so that the whole range of new conditions Beagle 2 would have encountered on Mars would not have affected the results.

Science Magazine

Back up your data and have a spare copy of any work you have saved.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

ItsAnOutrage2 shares their caution, but proposes a system for dealing with awkward requests: I always have an old, spare copy of Master and Commander to lend.

The Guardian - Books

"We published an appeal in the latest issue of Tinkle - a monthly comic digest launched by Uncle Pai in 1980 - asking children to send us any spare copies they had of the comics". The response they received was overwhelming.

BBC

Correction: March 16, 2004, Tuesday A Spare Times listing in some copies of Weekend on March 5 about the photography exhibition "Haitian Women: Portraits of Courage," on view at the Brecht Forum in Manhattan through this month, misstated the surname of the artist.

The New York Times - Arts

Get your stuff together, and have extras of everything on hand - extra reeds (in a reed holder that you can put in your pocket) if you play a woodwind instrument, whatever else you might need, and a couple spare copies of the prepared piece, if it makes you feel better to have them on hand.

WikiHow

But if there are two copies of a gene, then the animal has a spare functioning copy, which allows those genes to rack up more mutations — both beneficial, harmful and neutral — without reducing survival fitness).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When working with important documents or data, always ensure you have "a spare copy" stored in a separate location to prevent data loss.

Common error

Avoid distributing "a spare copy" of copyrighted material without permission, as this can lead to legal consequences. Ensure you have the right to share or duplicate the content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a spare copy" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically acting as an object of a verb or preposition. It refers to an additional or backup version of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a spare copy" is a noun phrase used to denote an extra or backup version of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English. It's commonly found in news, media, wikis and scientific contexts, indicating its versatility across different registers. When using this phrase, remember to emphasize the importance of redundancy and preparedness. For alternatives, consider "an extra copy" or "a backup copy" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an extra copy

Replaces "spare" with "extra", indicating an additional copy.

a backup copy

Emphasizes the role of the copy as a safety measure.

a duplicate copy

Highlights that the copy is identical to the original.

an additional copy

Similar to "an extra copy", focusing on the supplementary nature.

a reserve copy

Suggests the copy is being held for future use if needed.

a second copy

Specifies that it's another version that can be referenced.

a standby copy

Implies the copy is ready and available for immediate use.

a mirror copy

Indicates an exact replica, often used in technical contexts.

a redundant copy

Highlights that the copy exists for increased reliability.

a safety copy

Focuses on the security aspect of having a copy in case of loss or damage.

FAQs

How to use "a spare copy" in a sentence?

You can use "a spare copy" to refer to a backup or additional version of something, like "I always keep "a spare copy" of my passport when traveling."

What can I say instead of "a spare copy"?

You can use alternatives like "an extra copy", "a backup copy", or "a duplicate copy" depending on the specific context.

Is it necessary to keep "a spare copy" of digital files?

Yes, keeping "a spare copy" of your digital files is crucial for data security and preventing loss due to hardware failure, viruses, or accidental deletion.

What's the best way to store "a spare copy" of important documents?

Store "a spare copy" of important documents in a secure, separate location from the original, such as a cloud storage service, external hard drive, or a safety deposit box.