patchy pieces

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "patchy pieces" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is incomplete, inconsistent, or lacking in coherence, often referring to information or work that is not fully developed. Example: "The report was filled with patchy pieces of data that made it difficult to draw any solid conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On the fringes of Sydney, where patchy pieces of bushland and paddocks jut up against the sprawl, the pristine, still empty cul-de-sacs of a new housing development arch over a grassy ridge.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

However, the bears are shown prowling around a concrete bowl with a patchy piece of grass at the centre.

The Guardian

Wallace Shawn's Aunt Dan and Lemon is a patchy, garrulous, disagreeable piece, set in England but with its eye on America.

The Guardian

However, Empire magazine only rated it 2 stars out of 5 (poor), concluding "this is a very patchy affair - while some of the animated pieces work, others come across as downright insane".

Wikipedia

It's also why, despite moments of greatness, it remains a patchy, rather careless-sounding piece of work.

The Guardian - Music

Investigators piecing together patchy data from military radar and satellites believe that minutes later the plane turned sharply west, re-crossing the Malay Peninsula and following an established commercial route towards India.

Huffington Post

City planners, elected officials and emergency-management types must deal with the city as it is, and on Monday evening everyone knew that a couple of inches of snow were about to fall on a region with patchy public transport.Earlier in her piece, however, Ms Burns makes a valuable distinction between Atlanta, the city of 444,000 people and Atlanta the region of 6m.

The Economist

Conductor Semyon Bychkov did his duty by the piece, which never really marshals its patchy material to best effect.

The Guardian - Music

In short, Xyrem helps piece together what would otherwise be a patchy, unfulfilling night for a narcoleptic and then disappears from the body after 12 hours, leaving nothing resembling a hangover.

The New York Times - Magazine

It contains a patchy array of art and artefacts, ranging from ancient Egyptian carvings to modern art pieces, bewilderingly arranged with little chronological thought.

The Guardian - Travel

In one of the earliest canvases, a still life of a bottle and a few pieces of fruit on a table, Cézannesque abstraction is animated by brushy gesturalism and bright, patchy color.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing landscapes or geographical areas, use "patchy pieces" to vividly portray fragmented or discontinuous regions, such as "patchy pieces" of forest amidst urban development.

Common error

Avoid using "patchy pieces" when you intend to describe something that is entirely ruined or completely missing. "Patchy" implies that some parts are still present, albeit unevenly distributed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "patchy pieces" functions primarily as a descriptive element, typically used to modify a noun. It highlights the non-uniform and fragmented nature of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes something that is incomplete, inconsistent, or lacking in coherence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "patchy pieces" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to describe something that is uneven, incomplete, or fragmented. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable. While its usage is relatively rare, it effectively conveys a sense of discontinuity or lack of uniformity. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, "patchy pieces" serves to paint a picture of things lacking wholeness or consistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uneven fragments

Replaces "patchy" with "uneven" to emphasize the irregularity in texture or appearance, and "pieces" with "fragments" to highlight the broken nature.

inconsistent sections

Substitutes "patchy" with "inconsistent", focusing on the lack of uniformity, and "pieces" with "sections" to suggest larger parts.

fragmentary bits

Replaces "pieces" with "bits" to indicate smaller elements and uses "fragmentary" to stress incompleteness, offering a slightly more informal feel.

disjointed parts

Uses "disjointed" to convey a lack of connection or coherence between the "parts", emphasizing a sense of separation.

scattered fragments

Emphasizes the distributed nature of the "fragments" with the adjective "scattered".

irregular segments

Replaces "patchy" with "irregular" focusing on the lack of a fixed pattern and "pieces" with "segments" denoting distinct parts.

varied portions

Highlights the differences in the "portions", using "varied" instead of "patchy" to suggest diversity.

mottled segments

Uses "mottled" to describe a patchy appearance specifically related to color or texture variation, and "segments" to refer to distinct parts.

spotty components

Utilizes "spotty" to indicate uneven distribution or quality in the "components", suggesting a scattered presence.

checkered elements

Implies an alternating pattern, replacing "patchy" with "checkered" to specify the arrangement of the "elements".

FAQs

How can I use "patchy pieces" in a sentence?

You can use "patchy pieces" to describe something composed of uneven or discontinuous parts. For example, "The quilt was made of "patchy pieces" of fabric."

What does "patchy pieces" mean?

"Patchy pieces" refers to something that is not uniform or complete, but rather made up of irregular or scattered portions.

What are some synonyms for "patchy pieces"?

Alternatives to "patchy pieces" include "uneven fragments", "inconsistent sections", or "fragmentary bits".

Is it correct to say "patchy pieces of information"?

Yes, it is correct. "Patchy pieces of information" suggests that the available data is incomplete or unevenly distributed, making it difficult to form a complete understanding. If that's the case it would be correct to say fragmentary bits of information