hunk of paper

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hunk of paper" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a large or significant piece of paper, often implying that it is somewhat unwieldy or substantial. Example: "He handed me a hunk of paper filled with notes from the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

For one thing, there's the huge hunk of paper in the reader's right hand: more than seven hundred pages, suggesting grander ambitions than a tale of successful careers.

The New Yorker

Sitting at her desk surrounded by departing reporters who packed boxes quietly or sipped whiskey, Ms. Guzman said it was "more than this hunk of paper" that she would miss, but her colleagues and their encyclopedic knowledge and instincts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Inside was a hunk of concrete wrapped in paper.

The New York Times

Again, Peter shows that his grasp of the issue goes from A to B. What difference does it make if I'm holding a couple hundred pages of paper or a hunk of plastic?

TechCrunch

One by one, they are hauled up at lunchtime, carved by the master butcher and served by weight on a piece of paper, eaten by hand with hunks of hot flatbread accompanied by a glass of scalding hot mint tea.

The Guardian - Travel

Since that kind of paper is hard to sell, Davis demanded and got top dollar from the outfits he served, collecting big fees and getting hunks of equity in those companies.

Forbes

Each step from initial artists' renderings on paper to the turning of a hunk of steel into the properly shaped mold was independent of the others.

Forbes

When the lonely narrator of this Rodgers and Hart standard sang, "I admire the moon, as a moon, just a moon," you didn't think of a paper orb sailing over a cardboard sea but of a cold, distant hunk of rock.

The New York Times - Arts

We have pit beef – a large hunk of beef (usually a rump roast) that has been dry rubbed, smoked, grilled to rare, sliced paper thin and served on a Kaiser roll with onions, mustard and horseradish.

The Guardian - Travel

Engineers designed the dies on paper, and skilled craftsmen used hand-operated machinery to cut the die from a hunk of steel.

Forbes

This season's tool is cedar paper, six inches square and pliable enough to embrace a single-portion fillet of salmon, a hunk of fresh mozzarella or half a ripe summer peach.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hunk of paper" to describe a large, unwieldy document or a substantial amount of paper, especially when emphasizing its physical presence.

Common error

Avoid using "hunk of paper" in formal or professional writing; opt for more neutral terms like "document" or "report" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hunk of paper" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a direct object or a subject complement, referring to a physical piece of paper. Ludwig confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hunk of paper" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a large or significant piece of paper. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it is relatively infrequent and leans towards a neutral register, predominantly appearing in News & Media contexts. For formal writing, alternatives like "document" or "report" are more suitable. The phrase emphasizes the physical presence and substantial nature of the paper being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large piece of paper

Emphasizes the size of the paper.

substantial document

Focuses on the importance or size of the document rather than the physical paper.

thick wad of paper

Suggests a collection of papers bound together.

considerable stack of paper

Highlights the quantity and accumulation of paper.

large sheet of paper

Focuses on a single, expanded piece of paper.

sizeable piece of stationery

More formal and emphasizes the writing material aspect.

big slab of paper

Uses 'slab' to give an image of a thick or heavy piece of paper.

massive amount of paperwork

Refers to the task associated with the paper rather than the paper itself.

bulky manuscript

Implies a handwritten or typed document.

significant ream of paper

Refers to a large quantity of stacked paper.

FAQs

How can I use "hunk of paper" in a sentence?

You can use "hunk of paper" to describe a large or unwieldy piece of paper. For example, "He handed me a "hunk of paper" filled with notes from the meeting."

What are some alternatives to saying "hunk of paper"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "large piece of paper", "substantial document", or "thick wad of paper".

Is "hunk of paper" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "hunk of paper" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more neutral terms like "document" or "report".

What does "hunk of paper" imply about the paper being described?

Using "hunk of paper" often implies that the paper is large, possibly unwieldy, and perhaps not neatly organized. It emphasizes the physical presence and substantial nature of the paper.