shard

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "shard" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a piece, fragment, or small portion of a larger object. For example, "I found a shard of glass on the floor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Memory is a strange and unreliable thing, shaped often by a vignette, captured in a scent, a sound, a shard of emotion rather than factual detail.

The Guardian - Opinion

The cherry on top of the cake (OK, doughnut) is a sea salt honeycomb shard topping, a perfect foil to the rich filling.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By coincidence, after leaving the studio, I had an appointment to interview the Sun's latest editor, David Dinsmore (published on 11 August here), who was settling in to the paper's post-Wapping headquarters in the baby shard at London Bridge.

The Guardian

As Izbicki looked on, the falling shard split the old woman's head open, killing her instantly.

The Guardian

I was going to leave it, as I did the last time a bit of tooth dropped out, but a stubborn shard keeps cutting the side of my tongue.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It will tower above the Lloyds building yet look puny beside three 700-foot-plus City monsters that are planned, let alone the "shard of glass", 1,016 feet of it, just across the Thames by Tower Bridge.Yet the big news, rent-wise, is in the West End.

The Economist

The architecture looks like a collection of recent international design-award winners: the Apple store a cool glass box, the Adidas one a jagged shard of orange and ochre, all arranged around the obligatory skating rink.It's magnificent, but it is not the typical middle-class shopping experience.

The Economist

If it opts for the EU, Transdniestria is just an expensive shard of territory a long way from Russia.

The Economist

In this divided, fought-over shard of land splintered from the Middle East barely 70 years ago, Mr Shavit's prophetic voice carries lessons that all sides need to hear.From those for whom it has become a dirty word, he reclaims the nobility of Zionism.

The Economist

Delugan Meissl, the architectural firm designing the museum, promises "new ideas on the use of gravity and space," and indeed the structure is a shimmering, triangular steel shard supported by concrete stilts.

The Economist

The finalists in a government-sponsored competition to design a new pylon include a single shard spiking into the sky and an arced, open bow (pictured above).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shard" to describe not just physical fragments, but also intangible elements like emotions or memories that are experienced as fragmented pieces of a whole.

Common error

Avoid using "shard" when a more general term like "piece" or "fragment" is more appropriate. "Shard" specifically implies a sharp, broken piece, typically of glass, pottery, or similar brittle materials.

Linguistic Context

The word "shard" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a piece of broken material, most commonly glass or pottery. Ludwig's examples demonstrate this usage in contexts ranging from literal fragments to metaphorical pieces of memory or emotion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Lifestyle

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "shard" is a common noun that refers to a broken piece of material, typically glass or pottery. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing and usability in diverse contexts. Usage ranges from literal fragments of physical objects, as shown in news reports, to metaphorical representations of emotions and memories in lifestyle articles. While suitable for both formal and informal writing, using "shard" implies a sharp edge or vulnerability that is important to consider for accurate and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fragment

A general term for a broken piece or part.

splinter

A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or similar material broken off from a larger object.

sliver

A thin, narrow piece of something.

piece

A portion or part of something.

fragmentation

The process or state of breaking or being broken into small parts.

portion

A part of something, often a specific amount.

component

A part or element of a larger whole, especially a machine or system.

segment

One of the parts into which something is or may be divided.

morsel

A small piece or amount of food; a mouthful.

iota

An extremely small amount.

FAQs

How can I use "shard" in a sentence?

You can use "shard" to describe a broken piece of glass, pottery, or other brittle material. For example, "She carefully picked up the "shard" of glass from the floor."

What are some synonyms for "shard"?

Synonyms for "shard" include "fragment", "splinter", "sliver", and "piece", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "shard" to describe a piece of metal?

While "shard" is typically used for brittle materials like glass or pottery, it can be used for metal if the metal is broken in a way that creates a sharp, jagged piece. A more common term for a piece of broken metal might be "fragment" or "splinter".

Can "shard" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "shard" can be used metaphorically to describe a small, sharp piece of something intangible, such as a "shard" of memory or a "shard" of emotion.