piece together

USAGE SUMMARY

"piece together" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the process of compiling separate items or ideas into a larger whole. For example, "We need to piece together the evidence to solve this mystery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She then solders the piece together.

The New York Times

We will piece together that documentation".

The New York Times

The picture was hard to piece together.

The Economist

We read this piece together.

The Guardian

"That brought the piece together".

The New Yorker

We piece together what must have happened.

The Guardian - Books

Nasseri's story is difficult to piece together.

The New York Times - Magazine

We've even written the odd piece together.

The New Yorker

Frenetic efforts to piece together a coalition of the willing.

The New York Times

They tried to piece together the chain of events.

The New York Times - Sports

Such details of focus held the piece together throughout.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "piece together" when you want to emphasize the process of carefully assembling information or objects from smaller, often disparate, parts. It implies a deliberate and thoughtful approach.

Common error

Avoid using "piece together" when a simpler term like "assemble" or "put together" would suffice. "Piece together" is best reserved for situations involving complexity or difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "piece together" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of assembling or reconstructing something from smaller parts. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "piece together" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe both the physical act of assembling something and the cognitive process of reconstructing information or understanding a situation. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, making it a common and acceptable expression. This analysis, based on numerous real-world examples from reliable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, confirms its widespread usage in news, science, and general writing. When using "piece together", focus on situations where careful assembly or reconstruction is emphasized, and consider related phrases like "assemble" or "reconstruct" to fine-tune your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make sense of

Highlights the act of finding meaning or coherence in something confusing or unclear.

figure out

Emphasizes the cognitive aspect of understanding or solving a problem.

reconstruct

Implies rebuilding something that was previously whole but has been broken or destroyed.

put together

A more general term for combining elements, often lacking the nuance of careful reconstruction.

assemble

Focuses on the physical act of putting things together, lacking the implication of difficulty or investigation.

decipher

Implies interpreting something obscure or encoded, such as a message or code.

synthesize

Focuses on combining information from different sources to create a new understanding or product.

reconstitute

Focuses on restoring something to its original form or condition, often through a chemical or physical process.

recollect

Deals specifically with remembering fragmented memories or information.

unravel

Suggests untangling a complex situation or mystery to reveal the underlying truth.

FAQs

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

You can use "piece together" to describe physically assembling something, such as "The archaeologist had to piece together the fragments of the vase." Alternatively, it can describe mentally reconstructing an event, like "Detectives worked to piece together the events of that night."

What phrases are similar to "piece together"?

Similar phrases include "assemble", "reconstruct", "figure out", and "make sense of". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "piece together" formal or informal?

"Piece together" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's frequently used in news reporting, academic writing, and casual conversation.

Can "piece together" be used for abstract concepts?

Yes, "piece together" can describe both physical assembly and the reconstruction of abstract concepts, stories, or events. For example, "Analysts pieced together the data to create a comprehensive report."