copy pasta

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "copy pasta" is a colloquial expression that is often used in informal contexts, particularly online, but it is not standard English.
You can use it when referring to text that has been copied and pasted, often in a humorous or light-hearted manner, especially in internet culture. Example: "I can't believe you just sent me that long message; it's just a copy pasta from a meme!"

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Also, Sullivan happened to really likes finding news through e-mail lists, where people tend to copy pasta snippets of articles to share with other subscribers.

TechCrunch

EDM is all about the copy pasta.

Vice

He later commented, "EDM is all about the copy pasta.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

These threads include but are not limited to "New-fags can't triforce" threads, "Europe vs. United States" threads, Copypasta threads (called so because the user copies (copy) and pastes (pasta) the text) and "You ______ You Lose" threads.

WikiHow

The F.E.C. first addressed the issue of campaign-book-buying in 1995, when Alfonse D'Amato's reëlection committee requested permission to buy copies of "Power, Pasta, and Politics" to distribute as thank-you gifts to donors.

The New Yorker

Perhaps a bit late on this byte, but nevertheless: the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Penguin Australia is pulping and reprinting seven thousand copies of "The Pasta Bible" after a recipe called for "salt and freshly ground black people" — instead of pepper — to be added to the spelt tagliatelle with sardines and prosciutto.

The New Yorker

By Macy Halford April 19, 2010 Perhaps a bit late on this byte, but nevertheless: the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Penguin Australia is pulping and reprinting seven thousand copies of "The Pasta Bible" after a recipe called for "salt and freshly ground black people" — instead of pepper — to be added to the spelt tagliatelle with sardines and prosciutto.

The New Yorker

Perhaps a bit late on this byte, but nevertheless: the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Penguin Australia is pulping and reprinting seven thousand copies of "The Pasta Bible" after a recipe called for "salt and freshly ground black people"—instead of pepper to be added to the spelt tagliatelle with sardines and prosciutto.

The New Yorker

As Macy points out, Penguin Australia is reprinting several thousand copies of its cookbook, "The Pasta Bible," due to an unfortunate error: a recipe for spelt tagliatelle recommended "freshly ground black people," rather than black pepper.

The New Yorker

By Reeves Wiedeman April 20, 2010 As Macy points out, Penguin Australia is reprinting several thousand copies of its cookbook, "The Pasta Bible," due to an unfortunate error: a recipe for spelt tagliatelle recommended "freshly ground black people," rather than black pepper.

The New Yorker

In 1987, her book Top 100 Pasta Sauces sold a million copies and has been followed by eight titles on Italian and Indian cookery.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "copy pasta", be mindful of your audience. It's best suited for informal online communication where the context is clear and a humorous tone is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "copy pasta" in formal writing or professional communication. Opt for more formal alternatives like "copied text" or "pasted content" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "copy pasta" functions primarily as a noun phrase, referring to a block of text that has been copied and pasted. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is used mostly in informal communication. It's primarily used within internet culture.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "copy pasta" is an informal term used to describe copied and pasted text, primarily in online contexts. While acceptable in informal communication, it's best to avoid it in formal or professional settings, opting for more suitable alternatives. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in internet culture and informal communication. Remember to be mindful of your audience when using this phrase, as its casual nature might not be appropriate in all situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

copied and pasted text

More formal and descriptive, referring directly to the action.

pasted content

Focuses on the content that has been pasted, rather than the action itself.

duplicate text

Highlights the identical nature of the copied text.

replicated text

Emphasizes the act of creating an exact copy.

boilerplate text

Refers to standard, often legally required, text that is copied and pasted.

canned text

Implies pre-written text that is used repeatedly.

prefabricated content

Suggests that the content was created beforehand and simply inserted.

stock phrases

Refers to commonly used phrases that are often copied.

plagiarized content

Accuses someone of using someone else's content and failing to give credit.

lifted text

Informal way of saying that something has been copied from someone else.

FAQs

What does "copy pasta" mean?

"Copy pasta" is internet slang for a block of text that is copied and pasted repeatedly, often for humorous or trolling purposes.

When is it appropriate to use "copy pasta"?

It's appropriate in informal online settings, such as forums, social media, or chat rooms, where slang and internet culture are common. Avoid using it in formal or professional contexts.

What can I say instead of "copy pasta"?

You can use alternatives like "copied and pasted text", "pasted content", or "duplicate text" depending on the context.

Is "copy pasta" grammatically correct?

While widely understood in online communities, "copy pasta" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It is an informal term and should be used accordingly.