bulky book

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bulky book" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a book that is large, thick, or heavy, often implying that it may be cumbersome to handle or carry. Example: "I found a bulky book on ancient history that I couldn't fit in my bag."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The author of this bulky book offers more indignation than analysis in his portrait of postcolonial Africa.

The New Yorker

That big, bulky book, typically several hundred pages long, spells out the terms and conditions of the sale.

The New York Times

The e-guides offer many of the same maps, reviews and suggested itineraries as the bulky book.

The New York Times - Travel

The bulk of this bulky book — almost 1,300 pages, not including charts and ampelographic illustrations — and what no doubt will be most meaningful to the vast majority of readers, are comprehensive individual entries for the 1,368 varieties of grapes that (right now at least) produce commercial quantities of wine throughout the world.

The New York Times - Food

The members of the movement scatter plastic snakes and embarrass the government whenever they can, performing obscenely, for example, as dancers at a state ceremony.The author of this bulky book offers more indignation than analysis in his portrait of postcolonial Africa.

The New Yorker

Gransden is always the consummate showman and after miscalling his next chart he related how nice it would be to lose the bulky book of arrangements that he carries around.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Many bestselling authors of the past 20 years have mostly written bulky books, usually in series – EL James, Stephen King, Stieg Larsson, Hilary Mantel, George RR Martin and JK Rowling.

The Guardian - Books

OFFERING plans, the bulky books that can run to hundreds of pages describing the ins and outs of a condominium or co-op, have long been an awkward reality of home-buying in New York City.

The New York Times

The museum claims they were taken from a Georgian soldier in South Ossetia, though it might seem improbable that the soldier would take the bulky books with him to the battleground of Tskhinvali.

Independent

Who can justify wasting paper to print bulky books whose pages are prone to staining or tearing, when the digital and electronic versions are so much more convenient to use and store?

The New York Times - Arts

Lommen cites some acknowledged benchmarks, including Rem Koolhaas and Bruce Mau's "Small, Medium, Large, Extra-Large: Office for Metropolitan Architecture" (1995), one of the first in the fashion for "bulky" books, a brick of a volume that exhibits the synergy of image and text (à la Quentin Fiore), and Stefan Sagmeister's "Sagmeister.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bulky book" when you want to emphasize the physical size and unwieldiness of the book. It can imply that the book is cumbersome to carry or handle.

Common error

While "bulky book" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal writing, especially when describing scholarly works. Opt for terms like "substantial volume" or "extensive treatise" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bulky book" primarily functions as a descriptive noun phrase. The adjective "bulky" modifies the noun "book", highlighting its physical attributes, specifically its large size and volume. As confirmed by Ludwig, this construction is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bulky book" is a grammatically sound and commonly used descriptor, particularly in news and media contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, it effectively conveys the physical size and unwieldiness of a book. While acceptable in most situations, substituting it with phrases like "large volume" or "substantial book" may be more appropriate in formal settings. When using "bulky book", focus on emphasizing the book's physical attributes and how they impact its usability or convenience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large volume

Replaces "bulky" with "large" offering a more general term for size.

thick book

Substitutes "bulky" with "thick", emphasizing the book's dimension.

heavy tome

Replaces "book" with "tome", indicating a scholarly and weighty book.

massive book

Emphasizes the large size and scale of the book.

oversized book

Highlights that the book is larger than the standard size.

substantial book

Focuses on the significant content and physical presence of the book.

cumbersome book

Highlights the unwieldy nature of the book due to its size.

weighty book

Emphasizes both the physical weight and the importance of the book.

voluminous book

Stresses the large quantity of content within the book.

mammoth book

Exaggerates the size of the book.

FAQs

What does "bulky book" mean?

A "bulky book" refers to a book that is large, thick, and often heavy, making it somewhat cumbersome to handle or carry.

What can I say instead of "bulky book"?

You can use alternatives like "large volume", "thick book", or "heavy tome", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to describe a novel as a "bulky book"?

Yes, it is acceptable to describe a novel as a "bulky book" if you want to emphasize its size and physical presence. However, consider the tone; alternatives might be more suitable for formal reviews.

What are some situations where using "bulky book" would be most fitting?

The term "bulky book" is fitting when describing the physical inconvenience of carrying a large book, or when contrasting it with a digital version. For example, “The e-guides offer many of the same maps, reviews and suggested itineraries as the "bulky book".”