cake

USAGE SUMMARY

The word “cake” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a dessert, usually a sweet baked dish. For example, "My favorite type of cake is chocolate cake with a creamy frosting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We ploughed into a tasty carrot cake and a pot of tea while 1990s music played reassuringly in the background.

The Guardian - Travel

10am: hot drinks and cake at the Patchwork cafe The drive from Hobart into the heart of Tasmania is a pleasant one.

The Guardian - Travel

"There's a fear among them that this is a zero-sum game; that there's a pre-defined cake and if you start talking about men, you're going to somehow eat a chunk of this cake that's taken them a long time to bake".

The Guardian

As well as less virtuous choices of beautifully made beef burgers, a pasta of the day, and a cake display full of yummy treats.

The Guardian - Travel

Since all it takes for evil to prevail is one good seven-year-old to do nothing, I continued to crack the case wide open: "And what about the tooth fairy?" I got up to tell my sister, but was waylaid by an adult offering me chocolate cake in exchange for my silence.

The Guardian - Opinion

The German chancellor, who pleaded with Britain in a speech to a joint session of parliament on Thursday to remain a "strong voice" within the EU, declared in Downing Street that a deal was "doable" though she warned that the negotiations would not be a "piece of cake".

The Guardian

Solar Schools works differently in every school – they really make the project their own – from organising school discos and cake sales to a sponsored bungee jump and seven hour table tennis marathons.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Earlier in the day, with the debate moving to the subject of post-election coalition talks, Lord O'Donnell, the former cabinet secretary who coordinated the 2010 discussions, said those negotiations were likely to be a "piece of cake" compared with the multiparty talks that are likely to start after the general election next month.

The Guardian

Set aside and let it cool completely. 2 Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Grease a 23cm, deep, square cake tin and set aside. 3 Mix together the coconut, semolina, flour and baking powder then set aside. 4 Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together for 3-5 minuntiluntit is is fluffy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This column was amended on 27 January 2015 to adjust the amount of coconut required in the Coconut and semolina yoghurt cake, and to remove a reference to the Tropical Bounty tart as being vegan.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Leave to cool before taking the cake out of the tin and slicing to serve.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "cake", be specific about its flavor, texture, and ingredients to enhance the reader's sensory experience. Instead of just saying "chocolate cake", try "rich dark chocolate cake with a creamy ganache."

Common error

Avoid using the idiom "have your cake and eat it too" too frequently. While it's a common expression, overuse can make your writing sound cliché. Consider alternative phrases such as "enjoying benefits without paying the price."

Linguistic Context

Cake primarily functions as a noun, denoting a sweet baked food made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts, from describing specific types of cakes to its presence in idiomatic expressions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Lifestyle

25%

Travel

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "cake" is a common noun referring to a sweet baked dessert, as confirmed by Ludwig. It appears in various contexts, including News & Media, Lifestyle, and Travel. While grammatically straightforward, its usage extends to idiomatic expressions like "piece of cake" and "have your cake and eat it too". Ludwig AI indicates that "cake" is correct and usable in written English. When writing about "cake", consider being specific about its flavor and texture, and avoid overusing the idiom "have your cake and eat it too".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gateau

A rich cake, typically one containing layers of cream or fruit, offering a fancier alternative to "cake".

sponge cake

A light airy cake, specifying a particular type of "cake".

cupcake

A small cake baked in a paper or thin aluminum cup, focusing on size and form of "cake".

torte

A rich, multilayered cake, often made with ground nuts instead of flour, differing in ingredients from a typical "cake".

fruitcake

A cake containing dried fruits and nuts, specifying another particular type of "cake".

pastry

Refers to baked goods with a higher fat content, differing from "cake" in texture and richness.

baked dessert

A broader category that includes "cake" but also encompasses other baked sweet dishes.

sweet treat

A general term for any sweet edible item, less specific than "cake".

confection

A sweet food or dish, can be broader than "cake" and include candies or other sugary items.

piece of cake

An idiom that represents something easy to do and it's a figurative use of "cake".

FAQs

How to use "cake" in a sentence?

You can use "cake" to refer to a sweet baked dessert, as in, "I made a delicious chocolate "cake" for the party."

What can I say instead of "cake"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "pastry", "gateau", or "torte".

Which is correct, "cake" or "piece of cake"?

"Cake" refers to the dessert itself, while "piece of cake" is an idiom meaning something is easy to do.

What's the difference between "cake" and "cupcake"?

"Cake" is a general term for a baked dessert, while "cupcake" refers to a small cake baked in a cup-shaped mold.