dense text

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dense text" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to describe a text that is filled with a lot of ideas, information, or words that are difficult to understand. For example, "The professor's essay was filled with dense text, making it hard for the students to comprehend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Dense text of personal narrative set against political upheaval?

The Guardian

She does best when working against the dense text.

The New York Times

Finally the Reminder Pack uses clear iconography in place of dense text and has memory joggers.

The Guardian

Leave lots of open space, and don't cramp the page with too much dense text.

University of California, Berkeley

I am researching 18th-century magistrates' notebooks, which can run to hundreds of pages of dense text.

The Guardian

Similarly, you don't want to stream simple, dense text to a plasma monitor in a large conference room.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

With their dense, text-heavy shows, Mason and Nelson are enamored of spectacle, and they fully exploit the excitement and sadness one should feel watching something as evanescent as theatre.

The New Yorker

A big, dense text-and-image painting by Deborah Grant catches the paranoiac buzz of a nation at war, while a video installation by Matthew Bakkom brings the moral clangor of the World War II era into the present.

The New York Times - Arts

They had petitioned the court to delay the hearing until May, claiming to have read just five of the 60 volumes of dense texts that comprise the state's case against Magnitsky.

The Guardian

As the students of the introductory course (many of them first-years) sift through these dense texts (for many, their first brushes with theory), it is easy for them to feel alienated by the language.

University of California, Berkeley

Stedman Jones argues that much of what we now think of as Marxism – and, thus, much of what went on to inspire socialist and communist parties – was the creation of Engels, who codified Marx's theories after his death, thus making them palatable for people unable or unwilling to wade through his dense texts.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When dealing with "dense text", break it down into smaller, more manageable sections. Summarize each section to ensure comprehension before moving on.

Common error

Don't mistake complexity for intelligence. Clarity is key. Avoid using unnecessarily long sentences or obscure vocabulary when simpler alternatives exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dense text" functions as a noun phrase, where "dense" is an adjective modifying the noun "text". It describes a quality of the text itself. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

24%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dense text" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe written material that is complex and requires significant effort to understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in diverse contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. When using or encountering "dense text", remember to break it down into smaller sections and focus on clarity in your own writing. Consider using alternatives such as "complex writing" or "complicated text" for nuanced meaning. By following these guidelines, you can effectively navigate and create written content that is both informative and accessible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complex writing

Focuses on the intricacy and multifaceted nature of the text.

complicated text

Highlights the difficulty in understanding or processing the text.

impenetrable prose

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding the writing style.

convoluted language

Highlights the intricate and often unnecessarily complex structure of the language used.

technical jargon

Refers specifically to specialized language difficult for outsiders to understand.

obscure wording

Focuses on the lack of clarity and potential ambiguity in the text.

difficult passage

Highlights that a specific section of the text is hard to understand.

challenging reading

Focuses on the effort required to understand the material.

heavy reading

Highlights the demanding nature of the text.

detailed documentation

Focuses on the thoroughness and specificity of the text.

FAQs

How can I simplify "dense text" in my writing?

Use shorter sentences, break up long paragraphs, and replace complex words with simpler alternatives. Visual aids like bullet points or charts can also help improve readability.

What does "dense text" imply about the reader?

It suggests that the reader needs to possess a strong understanding of the subject matter, or be prepared to invest significant effort to comprehend the material.

What are some synonyms for "dense text"?

You can use alternatives such as "complex writing", "complicated text", or "impenetrable prose", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "dense text"?

It may be appropriate in academic papers, legal documents, or technical manuals where precision and detail are paramount. However, it's best to avoid "dense text" when communicating with a general audience.