ounce

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ounce' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a unit of measurement, usually for liquids or for gold or silver. For example, you can say "I just bought a bottle of water that contains 16 ounces of liquid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"To be honest the performance tonight was not what we would have expected but the players gave every solitary ounce they had.

The Guardian - Sport

Oft-injured Malthouse-favourite Dale Thomas is an honest player who gives every ounce of himself and arrived at Carlton at an age that justified a four-year deal, but what well-run club would have paid so lavishly for an outside midfielder and defensive forward under a significant injury cloud?

The Guardian - Sport

In the more than four decades since president Richard Nixon abolished the gold standard – the pledge that a dollar was worth 1/35th of an ounce of gold – there has been no formal link between the value of the precious metal and that of the dollar or any other of the world's other chief currencies.

The Guardian - Money

But I do need sanitary product manufacturers to develop an ounce of the wit and warmth of WaterAid's ads.

The Guardian - Opinion

If Charles Kennedy's death leads one or two to pause before unleashing mob scorn or fury, if it prompts an ounce more compassion for people whose lives might well be more complicated than they look – well, a fine liberal legacy that would be.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mirabella held open the prospect of an attempt to regain the seat in the next election, stating: "I will work with every ounce of my being to see this seat return to the Coalition but that is for another day.

The Guardian

The tax for bars of silver will jump from roughly €1 to €2 an ounce.

The Guardian

When I'm fresh from a diet, she'll say (untruthfully), "Not an ounce of fat!" When I'm glumly pinching at three or four inches, it's, "So what?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Finally, the commonwealth could reintroduce export license fees, on a per tonne or per ounce  basis, for highly profitable resources such as iron ore, coal and gold.

The Economist

Meanwhile, a new law makes possession of less than an ounce merely an infraction, rather like a traffic ticket.

The Economist

But poverty, hunger and disease leave the region vulnerable to security and humanitarian disasters.In every aspect of Africa's complex plight an ounce of prevention will be worth a ton of treatment.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ounce" as a unit of weight, specify whether you are referring to an avoirdupois ounce or a troy ounce to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "ounce" interchangeably for liquid and weight measurements without specifying the context. Always clarify whether you mean a fluid ounce (volume) or an avoirdupois/troy ounce (weight) to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "ounce" primarily functions as a noun, denoting a unit of weight or volume. It can also be used metaphorically to represent a small amount of something, as demonstrated by Ludwig in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "ounce" is a versatile noun primarily used to denote a unit of weight or volume. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. While "ounce" is often straightforward, it's crucial to specify the type of "ounce" (avoirdupois, troy, or fluid) to avoid ambiguity. When employed metaphorically, alternatives like ""bit"" or ""modicum"" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

28 grams

Expresses weight in metric units, providing a direct conversion for an avoirdupois ounce.

fluid ounce

Specifies a unit of volume, typically used for liquids, clarifying the type of "ounce" being referenced.

small amount

Replaces the literal measurement with a general term for a minimal quantity.

bit

Offers a colloquial substitute for a small quantity, suitable for informal contexts.

modicum

Provides a more formal and precise term for a small or limited quantity.

iota

Implies an extremely small quantity, often used to emphasize the lack of something.

scintilla

Indicates a tiny amount, adding a touch of sophistication to the expression.

gram

A smaller unit of measurement, useful when greater precision is required.

dash

Suggests a small addition, typically used for ingredients or abstract qualities.

trace

Denotes a barely detectable amount, emphasizing minimal presence.

FAQs

How to use "ounce" in a sentence?

You can use "ounce" to refer to a unit of weight, as in "a troy "ounce" of gold", or to a unit of volume, as in "a fluid "ounce" of water". It can also metaphorically refer to a small amount, such as "an "ounce" of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

What's the difference between a fluid ounce and a weight ounce?

A fluid "ounce" (fl oz) is a unit of volume, used for measuring liquids. A weight "ounce" (oz) is a unit of mass, with different standards like avoirdupois and troy ounces. They measure different properties and are not interchangeable.

What can I say instead of "ounce" when referring to a small amount?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a "bit"", "a "modicum"", or "a "iota"" to indicate a small quantity or degree.

Is "ounce" a precise measurement?

While "ounce" is a standard unit, its precision depends on the context. For weight, a troy "ounce" (used for precious metals) has a different value than an avoirdupois "ounce". For volume, a fluid "ounce" in the US differs slightly from an imperial fluid "ounce". Always specify the type when precision matters.