a wall of text

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wall of text" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a large block of text that is difficult to read due to its length and lack of breaks or formatting. Example: "The report was so dense, it felt like reading a wall of text without any headings or bullet points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

I see a wall of text and I just look at the picture and click "Next".

The New York Times

Some Polywhores use advanced techniques, such as the "mosaic," in which the objects are arranged like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, with no items overlapping ("That's a tough one"); or "text and pics," with Lilliputian products arranged before a wall of text ("Some girls from Italy started that").

The New Yorker

In the Spanish pavilion Lara Almarcegui has placed a vast mound of rubble that reaches up to the ceiling; Stefanos Tsivopoulos in the Greek pavilion has created a wall of text about alternative currencies and a three-part film in which a woman makes bouquets of flowers out of euro notes.

The Economist

The copy is a wall of text.

TechCrunch

How exactly does their algorithm turn a blank page into a wall of text?

TechCrunch

Imagine a wall of text that creates a pixelated, black and white video image and you've got the idea.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Mr Ai produced Remembering, a wall of Chinese text made from children's backpacks that covered the facade of the Haus der Kunst in Munich, Germany.

BBC

But on the flip side — and there is a flip-side — pictures are very accessible, and are more likely to appeal to a mainstream user vs a dense wall of text that needs to be filtered and unpicked on the fly.

TechCrunch

Anna Boghiguian, an Egyptian-born artist, who, like Lubaina Himid, has received a burst of attention comparatively late in her career, has a fierce wall of text and pastel drawings showing at Sfeir Semler, touching on hot-button themes of institutional racism and white privilege.

Vice

When you look at them on the page, it's a jagged wall of text.

The New Yorker

It's easy to digitize something like The New Yorker since it's essentially just a giant wall of text with maybe the occasional black-and-white cartoon thrown in for good measure.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, avoid presenting information as "a wall of text". Break up lengthy content with headings, subheadings, bullet points, and visuals to enhance readability.

Common error

Don't assume readers will dedicate the time and effort to sift through "a wall of text". Prioritize clear, concise language and thoughtful formatting to maintain engagement and comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wall of text" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms it's used to characterize a text passage as overwhelming and difficult to read due to its lack of formatting and excessive length. It commonly acts as a subject complement or an object of a preposition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

21%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "a wall of text" effectively communicates the idea of visually overwhelming and difficult-to-read content. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves as a descriptive noun phrase, often with a negative connotation. Usage analysis indicates that while grammatically correct, it's most frequently found in News & Media contexts, but also in wikis. To avoid overwhelming your audience, it's essential to structure your content with headings, visuals, and concise paragraphs. If you want to vary your vocabulary, consider options like "large block of text" or "dense text".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large block of text

Replaces "wall" with "block", focusing on the size and shape of the text.

dense text

Focuses on the compactness and difficulty of reading the text.

unformatted text

Highlights the lack of visual structure as a barrier to readability.

overwhelming amount of text

Emphasizes the feeling of being overloaded by the quantity of text.

impenetrable text

Stresses the difficulty in understanding the text.

text-heavy content

Describes content primarily composed of text, often to an excessive degree.

lengthy passage

Highlights the extended duration required to read the text.

extensive writing

Focuses on the large amount of written material.

massive text

Emphasizes the sheer size of the text.

text overload

Implies an excessive and potentially negative amount of text.

FAQs

How can I avoid creating "a wall of text" in my writing?

To prevent your writing from becoming "a wall of text", use shorter paragraphs, incorporate headings and subheadings, add bullet points or numbered lists, and include relevant images or graphics to break up the text.

What does it mean when someone describes a piece of writing as "a wall of text"?

When a piece of writing is described as "a wall of text", it means it's a large block of text without formatting, making it visually overwhelming and difficult to read. It often implies the writing is dense and lacks clear structure.

What are some alternative ways to say "a wall of text"?

You can use alternatives like "large block of text", "dense text", or "text-heavy content" depending on the specific context.

Why is presenting information as "a wall of text" generally considered bad practice?

Presenting information as "a wall of text" can overwhelm readers, making it difficult for them to extract key information. This can lead to decreased engagement, poor comprehension, and a negative perception of the content. Effective formatting and clear structure are crucial for reader retention.