glass shards

USAGE SUMMARY

'glass shards' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe small pieces of broken glass. For example, "The ground was littered with glass shards after the window was smashed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Glass shards went everywhere.

The New York Times

"Be particularly careful, as glass shards are invisible in water".

The New York Times

The glass was in the form of fine glass shards.

The Guardian

H.P. performed volcanic glass shards hydrogen isotope analysis.

Nature

Blackened wooden planks and glass shards littered the sidewalk.

The New York Times

The dining area was littered with glass shards.

The New York Times

Lucien has just been partially blinded by glass shards.

The New York Times - Books

A diagnostic attribute is the dominance of fresh pumice and volcanic glass shards.

Aeolian Research

She took a step and her feet crunched on glass shards, scratching the parquet.

The New York Times

The streets were strewn with broken glass, shards of metal, and screws.

The New Yorker

From a distance the project may remind you of glass shards on top of a wall.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing accidents or incidents involving broken glass, use "glass shards" to vividly convey the danger and potential for injury.

Common error

While both terms refer to broken glass, "glass shards" often implies sharper, more dangerous pieces. Use "glass fragments" when describing larger, less hazardous pieces.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "glass shards" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It refers to small, often sharp, pieces of broken glass. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is widely used in descriptions of accidents, explosions, or any situation involving broken glass.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "glass shards" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that effectively describes small, broken pieces of glass. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to describe a hazardous condition, often implying a risk of injury. While the term is generally neutral in register, it finds frequent application in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. When using the phrase, consider its implications of sharpness and potential danger, and avoid confusing it with the more general term "glass fragments". Alternatives include "broken glass pieces" and "fragments of glass". Ludwig AI confirms the proper usage and widespread acceptance of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broken glass pieces

Emphasizes the state of being broken and refers to individual pieces of glass.

shattered glass

Highlights the act of shattering and the resulting broken pieces.

fragments of glass

Highlights the idea of incomplete parts resulting from breakage, using a more formal tone.

glass splinters

Directly refers to glass splinters, often implying smaller and sharper pieces.

splintered glass

Focuses on the action of splintering, suggesting sharp, needle-like pieces.

slivered glass

Implies long, thin, and sharp pieces of broken glass.

broken glassware

Refers more broadly to any broken items made of glass.

glass particles

Refers to very small pieces of glass, like dust or powder.

pulverized glass

Suggests glass reduced to fine powder or dust.

waste glass

Describes waste glass as a material.

FAQs

How to use "glass shards" in a sentence?

You can use "glass shards" to describe scenes where glass has been broken into sharp pieces. For example, "The explosion left the street littered with metal scraps and "glass shards"."

What's the difference between "glass shards" and "glass fragments"?

"Glass shards" typically implies sharper, more dangerous pieces of broken glass, while "glass fragments" is a more general term for pieces of broken glass of any size or sharpness. Use "glass shards" to emphasize the potential for injury.

What can I say instead of "glass shards"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "broken glass pieces", "fragments of glass", or "glass splinters".

Is "glass shards" singular or plural?

"Shards" is already a plural noun, so "glass shards" refers to multiple pieces of broken glass. To refer to a single piece, you might say "a glass shard" or "a shard of glass".