Definition

Noun: A single page, typically containing an advertisement, article, or other specific content, that is designed or intended to be easily removed from a publication, such as a magazine or newspaper.

Usage

A "tear sheet" is used as evidence or a sample of published work. It is commonly requested by advertisers to verify that their advertisement was printed correctly, or by writers and artists as a portfolio sample. The term implies the page is perforated or otherwise prepared for neat removal.

Examples

• The advertising agency requested a tear sheet from the magazine to confirm the ad's placement and quality.
• As a freelance writer, she keeps a file of tear sheets from all her published articles.
• The printer provided several tear sheets for the client's approval before the full press run.

Advanced Usage

• In a professional context: The term is standard in publishing, advertising, and media industries. It can refer to a physical page or, in modern usage, a high-quality digital PDF that serves the same evidentiary purpose.
  • "Please send the digital tear sheets to the brand manager for their records."

Variants and Related Words

• Clipping: A more general term for an article or advertisement cut out from a publication, not necessarily designed for easy removal.
• Offprint: A separate reprint of an article, often identical to the journal version but printed independently.
• Reprint: A separately printed copy of an article or advertisement.

Synonyms

• Page proof
• Offprint (in specific contexts)
• Clipping

Notes on Meaning

While the core meaning involves a physically removable sheet, the term is now frequently used for digital equivalents. The defining characteristic is its function as a verifiable sample from a larger published work.

Noun

1. a sheet that can be easily torn out of a publication