a supply of bread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a supply of bread" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an amount or stock of bread available for use or distribution. Example: "The pantry was well-stocked with a supply of bread, ensuring that we wouldn't run out during the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Captain Bligh, armed with a sextant and compass, his nautical tables and log, a supply of bread and salt pork, set a course for Timor, almost 4,000 miles away.

The New York Times - Books

"They were very fortunate in a sense in that we got a supply of bread and jam and chocolate from McBurneys' lorries that were further up the queue with us.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

She always set the table, even when she was eating alone, and she always put bits of amusing bric-a-brac at each setting, since "you must have somesing fun for your eyes as well as your mouse!" Even when she was very hard up for money, which she often was, she kept a supply of good bread and good butter.

The New Yorker

As the Ravens arrived in town last week, London-Jones cooked for her son and his teammates, preparing 80 quarts of gumbo, 120 servings of jambalaya, 4 gallons of green peas, 30 pounds of potato salad and an endless supply of bread pudding.

The New York Times - Sports

They were a tough bunch who set off with little more than their hobnailed boots and a month's supply of bread and bacon.

The New York Times - Travel

As cited in the activist investor's report, official Olive Garden policy is for servers to bring out one breadstick per customer and one extra for the table, but instead, servers have apparently been dumping a lifetime's supply of bread on the table, most of which ends up in the garbage.

The Guardian - Opinion

The $15.4 billion (sales) railroad company ships enough grain to provide 900 million people with a year's supply of bread, enough sugar to make 3 million batches of cookies, and enough asphalt to lay a one-lane road four times around the equator.

Forbes

"They are only in Stalybridge because there is a ready, and seemingly endless, supply of bread provided by some of the locals and the output from all this consumption can be seen all over the towpath," he said.

The Guardian

It carries a supply of freshly baked French breads in several shapes and sizes, as well as some excellent pastries.

Los Angeles Times

i turn left, according to my map, away from Kim's local grocery, where – a creature of habit – he'd collect his daily supply of bread and whatever fruit and vegetables were available.

Independent

Nothing needed cooking, and we demolished our supply of bread during the wait.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In journalistic writing, consider whether the plural 'supplies' might be more appropriate if referring to multiple types or deliveries of bread.

Common error

Avoid using 'supply' when you actually mean the origin or producer. For example, 'The bakery is a supply of bread' is incorrect; instead, use 'The bakery is a source of bread' or 'The bakery provides "a supply of bread"'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a supply of bread" functions as a complex noun phrase where 'supply' acts as the head noun and 'of bread' serves as a post-modifying prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig, it typically occupies the object position in a sentence to indicate the possession or distribution of resources.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

7%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a supply of bread" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for describing a specific quantity of food. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in journalistic and instructional contexts, where clarity regarding resources is paramount. While the exact phrase "a supply of bread" appears less frequently than its plural variant "supplies of bread", it remains a standard choice for singular collective reference. Writers should feel confident using it to denote stocks, provisions or inventories in neutral and professional registers alike. Key authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ it to ground their narratives in physical reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a stock of bread

Implies a stored collection ready for use or sale.

bread supplies

A more concise and often pluralized alternative common in news reporting.

an inventory of bread

Shifts the focus toward a commercial or documented list of available goods.

a quantity of bread

Provides a more neutral, measurable description of the amount.

a store of bread

Emphasizes the act of keeping the bread in a specific location for later.

a provision of bread

Suggests bread provided specifically for a journey, event or necessity.

a reserve of bread

Indicates bread kept back for future use or emergency situations.

some loaves of bread

A more literal and specific way to describe the physical items.

a cache of bread

Suggests a hidden or strategically placed collection of bread.

bread availability

Focuses on the state of being able to obtain bread rather than the physical stock.

FAQs

How to use "a supply of bread" in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun phrase to describe an available amount, such as: "The explorers carried "a supply of bread" and water to last the week."

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

Depending on your context, you might use "a stock of bread", "bread supplies" or "an inventory of bread".

Which is correct, "a supply of bread" or "bread supplies"?

Both are correct. "a supply of bread" refers to a single collective amount, while "bread supplies" is often used to describe the overall availability or multiple batches in a larger region.

What is the difference between "a supply of bread" and "a loaf of bread"?

The phrase "a supply of bread" refers to a total quantity or stock, which could include many loaves, whereas "a loaf of bread" refers to one single unit of baked bread.