scrap

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'scrap' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'scrap' as a noun (a small piece of something, typically metal or paper) or a verb (to discard or dispose of something as useless). For example: "I'm going to scrap my old car for parts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Tech

Lifestyle

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But any irony involved in a coalition government that came to power pledging to scrap identity cards introducing a system of foreign residence permits will be lost as the political parties indulge in "a race to the bottom" over immigration.

The Guardian

The government will scrap the funding guarantees under Labor's 2011 national health reform deal.

The Guardian

The book's last sequence, Lucinda's Way, is the sweetest – a fond remembrance of a lovely sounding marriage, one in which she never threw away a scrap of his writing "without kissing it first", and in which Reid, as he puts it, was "second always to you, the dashing heroine".

The Guardian - Books

Which brings thoughts back to the question of why this most courteous of individuals should scrap so much.

The Guardian

Neil Harris's side were boosted further with the news that Birmingham had extended Rotherham's losing streak to four, winning 2-1, though it was not without a scrap at St Andrew's.

The Guardian - Sport

It's pleasant to fantasise that if Mirvish hadn't died in 2007, the building would never have been sold for scrap – but Ed's defining characteristic wasn't so much honesty as a hard nose.

The Guardian

Ukip goes a step further and wants to scrap it entirely.

The Guardian - Money

We will scrap mandatory fitments of eCall and allow owners who already have eCall installed to disable it on their vehicles".

The Guardian - Tech

Jake Molloy, oil and gas organiser for the RMT union, said oil and gas companies had already started to make hundreds of redundancies, delay projects and scrap drilling contracts.

The Guardian - Business

Ahead of the chancellor's annual Budget announcement in early 2012, letters appeared in the press demanding he scrap it.

The Guardian

The decision to scrap the Manchester mega-casino, accompanied by the promise to find better ways of regenerating our decaying inner cities, was a clear rejection of the market economy as the solution to all the problems of growth and renewal.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience and choose synonyms appropriately. "Discard" or "abandon" might be more suitable in formal contexts, while "junk" or "trash" are more informal.

Common error

A common mistake is using "scrap" without sufficient context, leading to confusion between its various meanings (discard, fight, small piece). Provide sufficient context to make the intended meaning clear.

Linguistic Context

The word "scrap" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a small piece or discarded material. As a verb, it means to discard or eliminate. Ludwig AI confirms this dual functionality, providing examples of both usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

10%

Business

8%

Less common in

Tech

6%

Lifestyle

4%

Arts

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "scrap" is a versatile term functioning as both a noun and a verb, with meanings ranging from a small piece to the act of discarding something. Ludwig AI verifies its grammatical correctness and common usage. While generally neutral, the term can become informal when referring to a fight. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, emphasizing the importance of considering audience and choosing synonyms to avoid ambiguity. Remember to provide sufficient context to ensure clarity when using "scrap", and consider alternatives like "discard", "abandon", or "fight" depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discard

Focuses specifically on the act of getting rid of something deemed useless or unwanted.

cancel

Implies to call off or do away with.

abandon

Implies leaving something behind, often permanently and sometimes suddenly.

ditch

Suggests abandoning or getting rid of something/someone.

junk

Refers to materials that are no longer useful and are ready to be thrown away.

trash

Emphasizes the valueless nature of what is being discarded.

fight

Highlights a physical or verbal confrontation.

altercation

Suggests a noisy argument or disagreement.

fragment

Refers to a small, broken piece or part of something.

remnant

Indicates a remaining piece or trace of something that is disappearing or has disappeared.

FAQs

How can I use "scrap" in a sentence?

You can use "scrap" as a verb, like in "They decided to "abandon" the project due to budget cuts", or as a noun, such as "I found a "remnant" of fabric in the sewing kit".

What does it mean to "scrap" something?

To "scrap" something typically means to "discard" or get rid of it, often because it is no longer useful or valuable. It can also mean to cancel or abandon a plan.

What's the difference between "scrap" and "discard"?

"Scrap" often implies that something is broken or unusable, while "discard" is a more general term for throwing something away. To "junk" implies breaking apart to salvage components.

When is it appropriate to use "scrap" to refer to a fight?

Using "scrap" to mean a fight is informal and often implies a minor physical "fight" or disagreement. Ensure the context is appropriate for informal language.