random passage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "random passage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a segment or excerpt from a text that is selected without a specific purpose or criteria. Example: "I opened the book to a random passage and found a quote that resonated with me deeply."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Take this random passage from a 1985 HP Lovecraft omnibus: "But oddly enough, the worthy gentleman owned himself most impalpably disquieted by a mere minor detail.

The Guardian - Books

A 5,700-line 5,700-linel (10-line stanzas, irregularly rhymed) that inverse the "butterfly effect" of chaos mathematics: a butterfly's ranovelpassage starts Russel Darlington on the road to a career in lepidoptery; many years later, a second butterfly lures him to fall from a cliff, crippling him permanently.

The New York Times - Books

One particularly fatuous work shows waves dashing against rocks, with a hint of glowering destiny, pointlessly thwarted by a speeding slick of orange meeting a random passage of mint-green, spattered with bubble-gum pink so that you cannot read the ghostly words beneath.

The Guardian

A 5,700-line 5,700-linel (10-line stanzas, irregularly rhymed) that inverse the "butterfly effect" of chaos mathematics: a butterfly's ranovelpassage starts Russel Darlington on the road to a career in lepidopterology; many years later, a second butterfly lures him to fall from a cliff, crippling him permanently.

The New York Times - Books

Scheer, a comedian best known as a cast member on "Human Giant" and "The League," explains in the first excerpt uploaded on Monday that he found the book so amazingly dumb that he felt it necessary to read a random passage and post the recording on SoundCloud.

Huffington Post

Once we computed the mean time of formation of a family of size n for different species, the question arises how accurately is the time T i, n) of the first random passage through the threshold n predicted by the mean value.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

You can't just flick through and memorise random passages to make it seem as if you've read it.

The Guardian - Opinion

The information on the pages is scrambled, and a reader must solve riddles, sending the answers via text messages to find out which of the seemingly random passages to read next.

The New York Times

I haven't read the whole thing yet but I am enjoying flipping around the book and reading random passages.

Vice

Read random passages.

WikiHow

Layer yourself reading random passages from the Bible, then another track of your doc snoring.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In creative writing or literary analysis, "random passage" can denote spontaneity or a deliberate break from conventional analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "random passage" without explaining why the selection was random. Provide context to justify the randomness, or it may seem arbitrary and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "random passage" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "random" modifies "passage". It describes a section of text selected without any specific intention or pattern. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English, suggesting it's grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "random passage" is a grammatically sound and commonly used term to describe a section of text chosen without bias. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, highlighting its role in ensuring objectivity in analysis and writing. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific sources, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly explains why a random selection was appropriate or necessary to prevent it from seeming arbitrary. Remember that alternative phrases like ""arbitrary section"" or ""chance excerpt"" can provide subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arbitrary section

Emphasizes the lack of a specific reason for choosing the passage.

chance excerpt

Highlights the role of luck or fortuity in the selection process.

haphazard selection

Focuses on the disorganized or unplanned nature of the choice.

unplanned segment

Underscores the absence of premeditation in selecting the portion of text.

fortuitous extract

Suggests that the passage was found by chance in a positive way.

incidental portion

Indicates that the passage was chosen as a secondary or unintended result.

serendipitous piece

Highlights the accidental and fortunate discovery of the passage.

unmethodical segment

Emphasizes that the selection did not follow any particular method.

unpremeditated selection

Stresses the spontaneous nature of the passage selection.

casual excerpt

Indicates that the passage was selected informally or without seriousness.

FAQs

How can I use "random passage" in a sentence?

You can use "random passage" to describe a selection of text chosen without any specific criteria. For example, "I analyzed a "random passage" from the novel to understand the author's style."

What are some alternatives to "random passage"?

Alternatives include "arbitrary section", "chance excerpt", or "haphazard selection" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "random passage" or "arbitrary passage"?

Both "random passage" and "arbitrary passage" are acceptable, but "random passage" often implies a more unbiased selection, while "arbitrary passage" might suggest a more subjective or less structured choice.

What does it mean to select a "random passage" from a text?

Selecting a "random passage" means choosing a section of text without any pre-determined method or bias, ensuring that every part of the text has an equal chance of being selected. This is often used to avoid confirmation bias in analysis.