How to Use on paper in a Sentence

on paper

phrase
  • None of it sounds glamorous on paper, but that's kind of the point.
    Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 22 July 2026
  • Sometimes, hunger and ideas make up for what’s missing on paper.
    Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • The Dutch are favored, but this is the closest match of the day on paper.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • The joke, at first, was how ill-suited for the gig Friedland was on paper.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026
  • Germany is far better than any of the teams Paraguay has played so far, on paper at least.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • Once that buyer wins, the building has to produce the income promised on paper.
    Anisha Steephen, Time, 21 July 2026
  • But on paper, the Bruins’ offense seems poised for a breakout year.
    Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That is the same family of failure as a payment rail that exists on paper and fails in use.
    Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • The real test is not whether an e-bike can travel an impressive distance on paper.
    New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Some applicants look risky on paper simply because the bureau does not know enough about them yet.
    Artem Lalaiants, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Most are mounted on paper, but some are retained in boxes and other vessels.
    Candace Barone, Florida Times-Union, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Executing what on paper might look like a good plan proved to be difficult.
    Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026
  • Add tortilla strips, being careful not to add too many at one time; fry until crisp and drain on paper towels.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 July 2026
  • Still, these numbers, on paper, did not appear to point to an impending closure for the show.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026
  • And on paper, there’s plenty to back this up; there’s a lot more going on than just a bump in resolution.
    New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But credentials only confirm someone can do the job on paper.
    Ed Brzychcy, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken and the potatoes from the oil and drain on paper towels.
    Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 27 July 2026
  • And the follow-on projects Koech describes exist only on paper.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The team member who seems fine on paper but is quietly pulling the culture in the wrong direction.
    David Salerno, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • This can show how an advisor thinks through a deal because the best offer is not always the largest number on paper.
    Bymike McIsaac Cpa, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Artists aren’t just creating pet memorials on canvas or on paper.
    Felicia Feaster, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • You can be fully prepared on paper and still need time to adjust to the lifestyle changes that come with retirement.
    Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The bat to honk exchange rate seems weighted heavily in the bat's favor, on paper anyway.
    Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Think about the thrill of discovery when the pictures finally emerge as objects on paper.
    Rotem Rozental, Fortune, 14 July 2026
  • Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is getting a great card — at least on paper.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
  • The Jets won three games last season and arguably opened the season with more talent (on paper, at least) on defense.
    The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Spano said the company has never opened an office because a city looked attractive on paper.
    Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The etching and aquatint printed in ink on paper, titled Torero, is the ninth in an edition of 30.
    Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Successful on paper and privately wondering why your life feels so heavy.
    Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 13 July 2026
  • The purpose of transit is not to maximize ridership on paper.
    Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on paper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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