chunk of reality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chunk of reality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific piece or segment of actual experience or truth, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "In her novel, the author presents a chunk of reality that challenges the reader's perceptions of society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

If you judge a poem by how big a chunk of reality it smuggles into language before returning it, transformed, you will have a hard time beating this catalogue from "Wigphrastic": Nonslip polyurethane patches, superfine lace, Isis wigs, Cleopatra wigs, Big Booty Judy wigs under the soft radar-streaked music of Klymaxx singing, "The men all pause when I walked into the room".

The New Yorker

And that chunk of reality is herself.

Huffington Post

She sees this man, greets him in a certain way...and provides him with a big chunk of reality.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It can range from relatively domestic tasks, like cooking a meal, to intricate trompe l'oeil environments that replicate or exaggerate huge chunks of reality.

The New York Times - Arts

This is particularly true in the case of Perec, who, like an agoraphobic miniaturist, focuses on manageable, bite-sized chunks of reality, which he then tries to shoehorn into his books.

The Guardian - Books

It's no worse than a romantic comedy, a war film, a Western, a thriller, with this difference: because of its veneer of factual reporting, the films that exemplify it are neither conceived as nor presented as genre pieces, but as sui generis chunks of reality.

The New Yorker

Each one of a large variety of slightly distinct chunks of reality has an equal claim to being the referent of the vaguely introduced name 'Tibbles', and each such thing has a perfectly precise mereological structure: some of them currently include the lose whisker among their parts, others do not.

SEP

Shivani: Tom Wolfe has written periodic manifestos pushing American writers to deal with bigger chunks of reality.

Huffington Post

Did Beckett, Borges or Kafka follow Wolfe's dictum and offer us "big chunks of reality"?

Huffington Post

Grist's Russ Walker lists the big giant chunks of reality she tries to glide past.: "Palin's thesis comes loaded with plenty of rhetoric and zero facts.

Huffington Post

Eschewing a fragmented montage, Iñárritu follows the action over extended stretches of time as if his doing so produced no mere photographic record of action but chunks of raw reality with their authenticity guaranteed intact.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chunk of reality" when you want to emphasize a significant or noticeable portion of actual experience, especially when it might be simplified or overlooked.

Common error

While acceptable, "chunk of reality" can sound informal in academic writing. Consider alternatives like "element of reality" or "aspect of reality" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chunk of reality" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and conveys a specific, albeit informal, meaning. The examples highlight its role in representing portions of real-world experience.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chunk of reality" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a significant portion of real-world experience. While Ludwig confirms its validity, it's more suited for informal or neutral contexts and might be less appropriate in formal academic or scientific writing. Its communicative purpose is to highlight genuine or unfiltered aspects of life. Remember to consider alternatives like "segment of reality" or "aspect of reality" for a more formal tone. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

piece of reality

Replaces "chunk" with "piece", suggesting a smaller or more distinct segment.

segment of reality

Substitutes "chunk" with "segment", implying a defined part of reality.

aspect of reality

Changes "chunk" to "aspect", focusing on a particular feature or facet of reality.

slice of reality

Replaces "chunk" with "slice", conveying a thin or representative portion.

fragment of reality

Substitutes "chunk" with "fragment", suggesting a broken or incomplete part.

element of reality

Changes "chunk" to "element", highlighting a basic component of reality.

portion of reality

Replaces "chunk" with "portion", suggesting a share or allocation of reality.

part of reality

Substitutes "chunk" with "part", indicating a component within reality.

dose of reality

Changes "chunk" to "dose", suggesting an amount of reality, often implying a harsh or unpleasant experience.

component of reality

Substitutes "chunk" with "component", highlighting a functional element of reality.

FAQs

How can I use "chunk of reality" in a sentence?

You can use "chunk of reality" to describe a significant part of someone's experience or the world around them. For example: "The documentary presented a raw "chunk of reality" about poverty in the city."

What phrases are similar to "chunk of reality"?

Similar phrases include "piece of reality", "segment of reality", or "aspect of reality". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "chunk of reality" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "chunk of reality" leans toward informal. For formal contexts, consider more precise or academic alternatives like "element of reality" or "component of reality".

What's the difference between "chunk of reality" and "slice of reality"?

"Chunk of reality" implies a larger, perhaps rough-hewn, portion. "Slice of reality" suggests a thinner, more representative sample. The choice depends on the scale and nature of the portion you're describing.