piece of

USAGE SUMMARY

"piece of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as an article and can be used before singular nouns, normally to indicate something not being complete or whole. An example sentence would be: "The boat arrived in pieces of wood and metal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A piece of bone".

The New Yorker

A piece of bread.

The New Yorker

"That piece of shit!

The New Yorker

(Piece of cake).

The New York Times

A piece of dirt.

The New Yorker

A piece of him.

The New York Times

"A piece of paper!

The New York Times

"A piece of intestine".

The New York Times - Health

A piece of crumpled paper?

The New York Times

A startling piece of news.

The New York Times

You're a piece of shit.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "piece of" to refer to a portion or fragment of something tangible or intangible. For example, "a piece of cake" or "a piece of advice."

Common error

Avoid confusing "piece", meaning a portion or part, with "peace", which refers to tranquility or absence of conflict. Always double-check your spelling to ensure clarity in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "piece of" functions as a partitive, indicating a portion or fragment of something. It is typically followed by a noun, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples like "a piece of cake" or "a piece of news". The Ludwig AI analysis confirms the grammatical correctness of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

35%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "piece of" is a very common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a portion or fragment. According to Ludwig, it's suitable for various contexts, maintaining a primarily neutral tone. As evidenced by the frequent use in news media and online wikis, "piece of" serves to quantify both tangible and abstract concepts. Remember to distinguish "piece of" from "peace of", and consider alternatives like "part of" or "portion of" depending on your specific needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

part of

Replaces "piece" with "part", offering a direct synonym with minimal semantic shift.

portion of

Substitutes "piece" with "portion", emphasizing a measured or allocated amount.

segment of

Emphasizes that the "piece" is a part of something larger, like a segment in the market.

fragment of

Implies that the "piece" is a broken or detached part.

element of

Suggests that the "piece" is a basic or essential component.

component of

Similar to "element", but with a slightly more technical connotation.

section of

Suggests that the "piece" is a distinct and separable part.

morsel of

Implies a small and often delightful "piece", particularly of food or information.

shred of

Indicates a very small or insignificant "piece", often used metaphorically.

iota of

Similar to "shred", denoting an extremely small amount or degree.

FAQs

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

Use "piece of" to indicate a portion or fragment of something, such as "a "piece of cake"", "a "piece of advice"", or "a "piece of land"".

What are some alternatives to saying "piece of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "part of", "portion of", or "segment of".

Is it correct to say "a piece of information"?

Yes, it is correct. "Piece of" can be used with uncountable nouns like "information" to indicate a single item or unit, just as you might say "a "piece of news"".

What's the difference between "piece of" and "peace of"?

"Piece of" refers to a portion or fragment, while "peace of" is usually part of the expression "peace of mind", meaning a state of tranquility. Ensure you're using the correct spelling based on the meaning you intend.