clip

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'clip' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a noun or a verb. As a noun, 'clip' can refer to a device that fastens or holds, a short sequence of a movie or an item of clothing. e.g. We used a paper clip to fasten the documents together. As a verb, 'clip' can mean to cut off, to fasten or to reduce the amount of something. e.g. He clipped the top off the rose bush.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Music

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A: When you "clip" something, it gets added to your clippings page: a sort of scrapbook of saved Guardian website stories, galleries, videos and so on.

The Guardian

It is at around 90 seconds into the clip that Speroni grimaces, the commentator declaring "and I'm not quite sure what he's doing" as the goalkeeper dawdles at a back-pass, fails to trick Kevin Campbell and ends up conceding a penalty.

The Guardian - Sport

"Spitting is universally recognised as perhaps the ultimate degradation and it's bound to result in rather aggressive retaliation," mused the consultant psychologist Dr Aric Sigman years later, in some nostalgia-based clip show or other.

The Guardian - Sport

Perhaps my favourite of the lot is the clip below of King Krule, which captures the singer at 14 entering a Glastonbury unsigned artists competition.

The Guardian - Music

The entire clip was filmed on location in Gibson's home territory of Pennsylvania's coal region, featuring the towns of Centralia, Jim Thorpe, Mahanoy City, Mt Carmel, Nesquehoning, Shamokin and Shenandoah; little happens aside from the looming sense of foreboding, tempered slightly by closeups of the Sub Pop heartthrob shovelling chips into his mouth.

The Guardian - Music

Watch the clip on YouTube Was there a better way for the hero of a 1980s fantasy movie to travel than on Falkor?

The Guardian - Film

Hertfordshire police launched an internal inquiry after IT monitoring caught the email with the graphic clip attached being sent round the force with comments such as "Look what happens when you run from police" allegedly added.

The Guardian

The video clip is the same as one that was the subject of a similar investigation within Merseyside police a couple of months ago, where 10 uniformed officers and three civilian staff were disciplined.

The Guardian

When a book, film, song, theatre show, YouTube clip or whatever is tagged with the term controversial it always jolts me into an internet frenzy of researching, watching, buying etc.

The Guardian

"It's inappropriate to celebrate a relationship between a 16-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man within the context of a 'Best Kiss' clip" a representative said.

The Guardian - Film

That's because when "boyfriend" clothes are photographed in magazines, stylists do clever things, such as clip them in the back and pin up the hems to make them look a little better.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a short piece of video or audio, use "clip" to clearly indicate a segment extracted from a larger source.

Common error

Avoid using "clip" when you actually mean "clamp". A "clamp" is a fastener used to hold objects tightly together, while a "clip" is generally used for attaching or securing.

Linguistic Context

The word "clip" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a device for holding things together or a short sequence from a film or video. As a verb, it signifies the action of cutting, fastening, or curtailing. As noted by Ludwig AI, "clip" is versatile and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Film

15%

Music

10%

Less common in

Sport

7%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "clip" is a versatile term functioning as both a noun and a verb, often encountered in News & Media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The primary usage involves referring to short video segments or the act of cutting or fastening. While often neutral in register, its specific meaning is highly context-dependent. As demonstrated by the various examples in Ludwig, "clip" can be used in numerous ways, from describing a device to shortening an item. To avoid mistakes, remember to differentiate between "clip" and similar-sounding words like "clamp".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

snippet

Similar to "excerpt", but implies a smaller, often more informal piece.

video segment

Relates specifically to a part or division of a video recording.

excerpt

Refers to a selected portion of a larger piece of content, like a video or audio.

movie scene

Specifies a particular segment or portion of a movie.

fasten

Focuses on the act of securing or attaching something.

attach

Highlights the connection or joining of two or more things.

trim

Implies a neat or tidy cutting away of excess.

cut short

Emphasizes the abrupt termination or reduction of something.

shorten

Highlights the act of making something shorter in length or duration.

reduce

Focuses on diminishing the size, quantity, or extent of something.

FAQs

How can I use "clip" in a sentence?

You can use "clip" as a noun, such as "Did you see the "video clip" from the game?", or as a verb, such as "Please "clip these coupons" from the newspaper".

What is the difference between a "clip" and a "snippet"?

While both "clip" and "snippet" refer to short excerpts, "clip" often implies a video or audio segment, whereas "snippet" can refer to any small piece of information or text. For example, "a "news snippet"".

What can I say instead of "movie clip"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "movie scene", "film excerpt", or "video segment".

What are common uses for the verb "to clip"?

The verb "to clip" is commonly used in contexts like "clip hair" (to cut hair), "clip coupons" (to cut out coupons), or "clip expenses" (to reduce expenses).