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CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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clump of letters

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clump of letters" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of letters that are jumbled together or not forming a coherent word or phrase. Example: "When I looked at the random text, all I could see was a clump of letters that made no sense."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Can the longer clump of letters win?

News & Media

The New York Times

Je t'aime: it is said with such childlike simplicity, the subject, je, and the object, tu, making a little clump of letters to support the aime and create a memorable sound package — Je t'aime.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

She shapes the clumps of hair into letters and leaves stray hairs radiating off of each one so that its material is obvious.

News & Media

Huffington Post

But a few months ago, Pamela Damman Horne, Steven's sister, now in her 50s, received a handwritten letter and a clump of photographs from Mr. Barnes, a stranger.

News & Media

The New York Times

And letters, lots of letters.

News & Media

The New York Times

(Outermost 'square' of letters').

A cover of TV Guide with the words "Soul Train" in big letters has a photograph of a dense clump of classical ballet dancers.

Or a clump of mud.

We stopped near a clump of trees.

"It is a clump of cells, but it is a very important clump of cells," Dr. Garrisi said.

News & Media

The New York Times

"A book is a clump of knowledge that goes together".

News & Media

The New Yorker
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clump of letters" when describing a group of letters that appear haphazard or lack a clear structure. It's suitable for contexts where the arrangement isn't intentional or meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "clump of letters" when referring to a carefully constructed word or phrase. This term implies a lack of organization, so choose a more appropriate term like "word" or "phrase" when describing meaningful sequences of letters.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

98%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clump of letters" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies a group of letters considered collectively, often implying disorder or a lack of inherent meaning. As Ludwig AI highlights, its grammatical correctness is supported by its appearance in respected publications.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clump of letters" is a noun phrase used to describe a group of letters, often implying randomness or a lack of coherent structure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and use in reputable news sources. While its usage is relatively rare, it effectively conveys the idea of a jumbled or disorganized collection of letters. When precision is required, consider using more formal terms like "character sequence" or "alphanumeric code". Alternatives include "group of letters" or "string of characters", offering similar but slightly nuanced meanings.

FAQs

How can "clump of letters" be used in a sentence?

You can use "clump of letters" to describe a random assortment of characters. For example, "The password appeared to be just a "clump of letters" with no discernible pattern."

What's a good alternative to "clump of letters"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "clump of letters" could be "group of letters", "string of characters", or "gibberish".

Is "clump of letters" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "clump of letters" is generally more suitable for informal or descriptive writing. In formal contexts, consider more precise terms like "alphanumeric code" or "character sequence".

What's the difference between "clump of letters" and "word"?

"Clump of letters" suggests a random, often meaningless sequence, while "word" implies a recognizable unit with a specific meaning. A "word" has semantic content, whereas a "clump of letters" may not.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: