broken plate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broken plate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a plate that has been damaged or fractured. Example: "After the dinner party, I discovered a broken plate in the kitchen, which was disappointing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Some of the broken plate paintings here are still bracingly hideous.

The New York Times

He picks up half of the broken plate but leaves the food, abandoned and dust-covered on the floor.

The Guardian - Books

Ward et al. [14] reported one broken plate post-operatively in a boy who began full weight bearing a few days post-operatively.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

"It's interesting to note that Plank, an established star, was missing from most of the tobacco sets of the era, giving further substantiation to [the] 'holdout' theory for BOTH Wagner and Plank and shedding further doubt on the broken plate theory," wrote Lew Lipsett in The Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards.

Forbes

He began fractions with an analogy of a broken plate.

Los Angeles Times

"This isn't the same as gluing a broken plate together," said one of the signers.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The system was broken and it seemed right to use broken plates.

The New York Times

He'd broken plates that way, and once a glass tabletop and got four stitches in his wrist.

The New Yorker

Mr. Schnabel affixed broken plates and tree branches to his paintings; Mr. Kiefer covered straw with paint, tar and painted words.

The New York Times - Arts

Day by day, from 1925 to 1955, Rodia worked on the towers outside of his house, adding glass bottles, broken plates, tiles and seashells to his complex of intertwined and jumbled steel structures that rose as high as 100 feet.

The New York Times - Travel

The two artists imagined bodies fighting, dancing, dragging, and embracing "amidst an environment of brittle porcelain, broken plates like at a Greek wedding the battle scene from 'New Ways to Love' on Platform, realised".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene involving destruction or loss, using the phrase "broken plate" can add a touch of domestic realism.

Common error

Avoid using "broken plate" in highly formal or technical writing where more precise terms like "fractured ceramic" or "damaged dishware" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broken plate" functions primarily as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. It describes a specific object that has been damaged. Ludwig examples confirm its descriptive role in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broken plate" is a grammatically correct and understandable English expression, primarily functioning as a descriptive noun phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys the state of a damaged dish and can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. While generally neutral to informal in register, it's commonly found in News & Media and Wiki sources. For more formal or technical writing, consider using more specific alternatives like "shattered plate" or "damaged plate."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shattered plate

Emphasizes a more forceful breakage into many pieces.

cracked plate

Implies a less severe form of damage, with visible lines but not necessarily separated pieces.

damaged plate

A more general term indicating any kind of harm or imperfection.

fractured plate

A more formal term for a crack or break, often used in technical contexts.

smashed plate

Similar to shattered, but with a connotation of violent impact.

chipped plate

Describes a plate with small pieces broken off around the edges.

split plate

Suggests a separation along a line or plane in the plate's structure.

fragmented plate

Indicates that the plate is broken into several distinct fragments.

ruined plate

Emphasizes the plate's loss of usability or aesthetic value.

unusable plate

Focuses on the plate's inability to perform its intended function due to damage.

FAQs

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

You can use "broken plate" to describe a damaged dish, such as, "After the party, there was a "broken plate" among the dirty dishes."

What is a more descriptive alternative to "broken plate"?

Depending on the context, you might use alternatives like "shattered plate" if it's in many pieces, or "cracked plate" if it's just fractured.

Is it appropriate to use "broken plate" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "broken plate" is generally more suitable for informal or descriptive writing. Formal contexts might require more precise terminology.

What does the phrase "broken plate" symbolize in literature?

In literature, a "broken plate" can symbolize fragility, loss, or disruption of domestic harmony.