in powder form

USAGE SUMMARY

"in powder form" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a substance, such as a substance used in baking, that has been ground to a fine powder. For example, "Add the sugar in powder form to the mixture."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The iron roof – in powder form.

Stanford University

Cocaine is crack snorted in powder form.

The Washington Post

Heroin in powder form can be sniffed, or inhaled.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In powder form, it comes out of a silvery packet and quickly dissolves in water.

The New Yorker

The same material in powder form might be sprinkled on packages of chicken to stop salmonella.

The New York Times - Food

She was only able to make a generic ddI -- in powder form -- recently.

The New York Times - Magazine

It comes in powder form and is available in a wide variety of traditional colors.

The New York Times

In powder form, the pepper can wholesale for a hundred and ten dollars a pound.

The New Yorker

Even in powder form, the most commoditized version, milk has a shelf life.

The New York Times

Hoxey had long ago returned to California in powder form, leaving nothing behind him.

The New Yorker

MoS2 (99% Aldrich), CuS (99.5%), and Mo (99%) were obtained from Aldrich, all in powder form.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a substance's physical state, use "in powder form" to clearly indicate it has been ground into a fine, dry state. This is especially useful in scientific, pharmaceutical, or culinary contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "powdered" interchangeably with "in powder form" when you mean to describe the state of the substance. "Powdered" is an adjective (e.g., powdered sugar), while "in powder form" is a prepositional phrase that specifies the substance's physical condition (e.g., the substance is available in powder form).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in powder form" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing its physical state. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples, where the phrase specifies the form of a substance or material.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in powder form" is a prepositional phrase used to describe the physical state of a substance. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and frequently used across a range of contexts, including science, news, and academia. The phrase serves to clarify that a substance exists as a finely ground, dry particulate. While alternatives exist, such as "as a powder" or "powdered", "in powder form" provides a clear and unambiguous description, as shown in the examples. A common error is misusing "powdered" as a direct substitute when the longer phrase better suits the desired meaning and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a powder

This alternative is shorter and more direct, using "as" to indicate the form.

in powdered state

This alternative uses "state" to emphasize the physical condition of being a powder.

powdered

This alternative is a single-word adjective describing something that has been reduced to powder form.

in pulverized form

This alternative uses "pulverized" to suggest a more forceful reduction to powder.

in finely ground form

This alternative specifies the fineness of the powder.

in granular form

This indicates a form consisting of small grains, but it's close enough in certain contexts.

as a dust

Suggests an even finer consistency than powder, similar but not identical.

in amorphous form

Refers to a non-crystalline solid state, broader than just powder.

in particulate form

Describes something composed of distinct particles, often very small but not necessarily a powder.

as milled substance

Highlights the process of grinding into a powder.

FAQs

How can I use "in powder form" in a sentence?

You can use "in powder form" to describe the state of a substance, for example, "The supplement is available "in powdered form" for easy mixing".

What's the difference between "in powder form" and "powdered"?

"In powder form" is a prepositional phrase describing a state, while "powdered" is an adjective. You might say "The medicine is "in powdered form"" or "powdered sugar".

What are some alternatives to "in powder form"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "as a powder", "in powdered state", or simply "powdered".

Is it always necessary to specify "in powder form"?

No, it's not always necessary. If the context makes it clear that the substance is a powder, you can omit the phrase. However, it adds clarity when the substance might exist in other forms.