Meaning & use
paper tearing
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Meanings
noununcountable
The act or process of pulling paper apart, often as a craft activity or as damage.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: 'Paper tearing is fun.' Not 'a paper tearing'.
Patterns
- paper tearing in something
- the paper tearing of something
The children spent the afternoon doing paper tearing and gluing.
Paper tearing is a simple way to make textured art.
noununcountable
The sound or result of paper being torn.
Grammar: Often used with 'the': 'the paper tearing was loud'.
Patterns
- the paper tearing of something
I heard the paper tearing from the next room.
The paper tearing left a jagged edge.
Common combinations
- paper tearing activity
- We did a paper tearing activity in art class.
- paper tearing sound
- The paper tearing sound made everyone look up.
- paper tearing technique
- She learned a paper tearing technique for collages.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: paper tearing or tearing?
paper tearing vs tearing
As a noun, 'tearing' alone can mean the act of tearing anything; 'paper tearing' specifies the material.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'paper tearing' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Paper tearing' is a noun phrase, so it works as a subject: 'Paper tearing is a fun craft.' The other options try to use it as a verb, which is incorrect; you would say 'She was tearing the paper.'
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “paper tearing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.