slabs of text

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slabs of text" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe large, dense blocks of written content, often implying that the text is difficult to read or uninviting. Example: "The report was filled with slabs of text that made it hard to find the key points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

These publications developed new ways of laying out and presenting stories, creating the narrative not with slabs of text but with photographs, captions and short pieces of text.

The Guardian - Arts

This book, with its lemony-fresh cover and postmodern updates on classic recipes (Beef Wellington with cilantro!) is miles away from the two-volume 50's-era Gourmet cookbook, twin slabs of text in forbidding brown leather binding.

The New York Times - Books

A team of Botnik's writers then used the Harry Potter keyboard to write slabs of text that were then submitted for curation.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Wonderfully translated by George Szirtes (who also translated "Satantango"), "The Melancholy of Resistance" is a great slab of text — a "slow lava flow of narrative," in Szirtes's indelible description.

The New York Times - Books

Here's a random slab of text from "How to Sharpen Pencils": "Let us examine a pencil point typical of the El Casco, if not the average double-burr sharpener.

The New York Times - Books

PALGN said "Even though there are a handful of in-game tutorials, they aren't entirely utilised efficiently as they're basically just a big slab of text making the game less friendly towards a wider audience".

Wikipedia

Although Darwin's slab is surprisingly bereft of text, it is likely he would have preferred it that way.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Most stirring, though, are the headstones scattered around the gallery: eight in all, slabs of varied hues bearing the text "Your Name Here" in different types of lettering.

The New York Times - Arts

Great slabs of 17th-century prose are slammed down in the text like hunks of uncooked meat.

The Guardian

(Johnson) ★ 'Sure Sure Davi Det Hompson: 1976-1995' (closes on Saturday) This mini-retrospective of Davi Det Hompson (a nom d'art for David E. Thompson, who died in 1996 at 57), a Fluxus text and mail artist turned abstract painter, mixes wry text pieces from the 1970s with later paintings in encaustic on shaped slabs of concrete or burlap-covered wood.

The New York Times - Arts

Many are upright slabs of limestone sculpted on one or more faces, with available surfaces sculpted with figures carved in relief and with hieroglyphic text.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "slabs of text" to vividly describe dense, unbroken passages of writing that may appear daunting or difficult to engage with. This is effective when you want to convey the visual impact and potential readability challenges of the text.

Common error

Avoid using "slabs of text" as a generic descriptor for any large text. The phrase implies a specific visual and reading experience: dense, unbroken, and potentially overwhelming. If the text is well-formatted or easily digestible, a different descriptor would be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slabs of text" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It serves as a descriptive term for substantial blocks of written content. As Ludwig suggests, it's used when referring to large, dense blocks of written content.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slabs of text" is a noun phrase used to describe large, dense, and unbroken passages of writing. Ludwig AI considers the phrase grammatically correct. It is most commonly found in news articles, wikis, and scientific publications. While not extremely common, it effectively conveys the visual and readability challenges of dense text. Similar phrases include "blocks of text", "chunks of text", and "walls of text". When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it accurately reflects the visual impact and potential difficulty of the text being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blocks of text

Focuses on the arrangement and structure of the text.

chunks of text

Emphasizes the substantial quantity of text, implying it is divided into large portions.

walls of text

Highlights the overwhelming and potentially intimidating nature of large amounts of text.

masses of text

Stresses the sheer volume and quantity of the written material.

expanses of text

Suggests a wide and continuous spread of written content.

reams of text

Implies a large quantity of text, often in a continuous stream.

bodies of text

Refers to a significant and complete collection of written content.

layers of text

Emphasizes the depth and complexity of text, arranged in superimposed strata.

volumes of text

Indicates a collection of documents or a substantial accumulation of written matter.

sheets of text

Refers to a large number of pages filled with written information.

FAQs

How can I use "slabs of text" in a sentence?

You can use "slabs of text" to describe large, dense blocks of writing. For example, "The report was filled with "slabs of text" that made it hard to find the key points."

What phrases are similar to "slabs of text"?

Alternatives to "slabs of text" include "blocks of text", "chunks of text", or "walls of text", each carrying slightly different connotations regarding the structure and perceived difficulty of the text.

When is it appropriate to use the term "slabs of text"?

The term "slabs of text" is most fitting when describing large, unbroken, and visually dense passages of writing that might appear overwhelming or difficult to read. It's less appropriate for well-formatted or easily digestible content.

Is "slabs of text" a formal or informal expression?

"Slabs of text" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both informal and formal contexts. However, its descriptive nature makes it particularly effective in conveying a subjective impression of the text's readability.