lost piece

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost piece" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an item or part that has been misplaced or is missing, often in a context where finding it is important. Example: "After searching for hours, I finally found the lost piece of the puzzle under the couch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But the result is always the same — a lost piece of memorabilia and a devastated collector.

The New York Times

The circle goes in search of this lost piece and, after some tribulations, finds it.

The New Yorker

They press up against this lost piece of land and poke at its mystery.

The New York Times

During his 13 years in power, Slobodan Milosevic has lost piece after piece of his country.

The New York Times

One moment, we were inside a series of nested boxes, like a lost piece of sixties Op art.

The New Yorker

Strange, unexplainable, head-scratching events have surrounded this team for months, beginning almost from the moment the Indians rediscovered a lost piece of Chapman's legacy.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Surely we will not be able to recover lost pieces of our economic engine.

The New York Times

The statement did not specify when the theft was discovered or identify the lost pieces.

The New York Times

He has also lost pieces from his own art collection by Hume, Sarah Lucas and Angus Fairhurst.

The Guardian

He said that before this debate started, they felt like old jigsaw-puzzle pieces in a box, like lost pieces of a toy.

The New Yorker

And each year for the past five years, the Ludlows have lost pieces of the extra 100 acres they rented.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lost piece" when you want to convey a sense of something valuable being missing, rather than just a simple absence.

Common error

Avoid using "lost piece" when referring to something that is simply not present but never existed or was misplaced. For instance, saying "I'm missing a lost piece from this puzzle" when you never had the piece is incorrect. Use it only when there's a genuine sense of loss.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost piece" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig shows it's used to denote a missing part or component, literally or figuratively, emphasizing the sense of loss or absence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

13%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lost piece" is a noun phrase used to describe something missing, often with a sense of loss or incompleteness. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable across various contexts, though it appears more frequently in news and media than in formal academic writing. When writing, be mindful to use "lost piece" when there's a genuine sense of something valuable being absent, and consider context-appropriate alternatives like "missing part" for simpler absences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

missing part

Focuses on the absence of a component.

misplaced item

Emphasizes the act of losing something.

irretrievable fragment

Highlights the impossibility of recovery.

unrecoverable segment

Similar to 'irretrievable fragment' but uses different terminology.

vanished component

Implies something disappeared without a trace.

gone element

Simple and direct way to express something missing.

stray segment

Suggests that the piece wandered off.

disappeared portion

Focuses on the fact that something is no longer visible or present.

absent fraction

More formal way to indicate a missing part.

discarded section

Indicates that the piece was intentionally thrown away or lost.

FAQs

How can I use "lost piece" in a sentence?

You can use "lost piece" to describe a missing component, memory, or aspect of something, like "After searching for hours, I found the "lost piece" of the puzzle" or "He felt like a "lost piece" of himself was missing after the event".

What are some alternatives to "lost piece"?

Alternatives to "lost piece" include "missing part", "misplaced item", or "irretrievable fragment", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "lost piece" in formal writing?

Yes, "lost piece" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing the absence of a critical component or aspect. However, consider alternatives like "missing element" or "unrecoverable segment" if a more technical or precise term is needed.

What is the difference between "lost piece" and "missing piece"?

While both phrases indicate something is absent, "lost piece" implies a sense of having misplaced something that was once present, whereas "missing piece" simply denotes that something is not there, without necessarily implying it was lost. For example, the expression "missing piece of the puzzle" is slightly different.