through the stack of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "through the stack of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to navigating or examining items that are arranged in a stack or pile. Example: "She sifted through the stack of papers to find the missing document."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Ahmet shuffled through the stack of records.

The New Yorker

Volodya glanced quickly at Polina, raised an approving eyebrow, and sorted through the stack of rifles for something suitable.

The New Yorker

For a while, it looked as if Ali might not make it through the stack of bills in his hand.

The New York Times

What I needed were record jackets picturing life-sized heads, so I started with the "A"s and worked my way through the stack of boxes.

The New Yorker

"I thought maybe it's like a horror story," he said as he flipped through the stack of crayon sketches, which featured a red-haired heroine.

The New Yorker

After I finished my dissertation, I read through the stack of metaphors and they cohered in a way that I hadn't expected.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

In one of the many buildings on the estate, Ukrainian investigative journalists are sorting through the stacks of files, in an atmosphere of extreme secrecy.

The Guardian

For every petitioner, Ngomnalta and his understudy searched through the stacks of paper or the piles of tattered blue ration cards.

The New Yorker

The lone shopper looked weary as he searched through the stacks of videos on wire shelves under a flickering fluorescent light.

The New York Times

Standing behind its glass counter where shelves offer handmade chocolate from Brooklyn, she's barely visible through the stacks of lollipops and lunch boxes, baskets and gift bags.

The New York Times

A number of new exhibition areas were planned, the most important being the public vaults, which are meant to mimic the experience of walking through the stacks of the archives.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "through the stack of" when describing a process of looking at or handling multiple items arranged one on top of another. This phrase is suitable for both physical objects like "papers" or "records" and more abstract concepts like "metaphors".

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "through the stack of" can make your writing sound repetitive. In formal or academic contexts, consider using more precise verbs like "examining", "analyzing", or "assessing" combined with nouns that better describe the collection of items, such as "data", "evidence", or "documents".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "through the stack of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the manner in which an action is performed. It describes the action of navigating or examining a collection of items arranged in a stack. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "through the stack of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that describes the act of examining items arranged in a pile or stack. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to convey a methodical search, suitable for neutral to informal contexts. While generally acceptable, overuse in formal writing should be avoided by considering alternatives. Remember to use it when emphasizing the action of sifting

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going through the pile of

Replaces "stack" with "pile", indicating a less organized arrangement.

sorting through the heap of

Uses "heap" to suggest a more disordered collection, and "sorting" implies a deliberate arrangement.

examining the collection of

Focuses on the act of examining rather than the physical arrangement.

perusing the assortment of

Implies a casual and leisurely examination of a variety of items.

riffling through the batch of

"Batch" suggests items produced or gathered at the same time, and "riffling" implies a quick search.

browsing the array of

Suggests a less focused search, often for leisure.

sifting through the accumulation of

"Accumulation" implies that the items have gathered over time.

inspecting the stockpile of

"Stockpile" suggests a large quantity of items accumulated for future use.

analyzing the array of

Emphasizes a detailed analysis rather than a simple search.

reviewing the series of

Highlights the act of formal review of sequentially arranged items.

FAQs

How can I use "through the stack of" in a sentence?

You can use "through the stack of" to describe the act of examining or searching items arranged in a pile. For example, "She went "through the stack of photos" looking for a specific one."

What are some alternatives to "through the stack of"?

Alternatives include "going through the pile of", "sorting through the heap of", or "examining the collection of", depending on the context. Each alternative conveys a slightly different nuance regarding the arrangement and the thoroughness of the search.

Is it correct to say "through the stacks of" instead of "through the stack of"?

Yes, "through the stacks of" is correct, especially when referring to multiple distinct stacks or organized rows, such as in a library ("through the stacks of books"). "Stack" implies a single, unified pile.

When is it more appropriate to use "among the" or "within the" instead of "through the stack of"?

"Among the" is suitable when emphasizing a selection from a group, such as "among the options". "Within the" implies containment, like "within the collection". "Through the stack of" focuses on the action of searching in a physical pile or heap.