The documents suggest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "The documents suggest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to information or conclusions drawn from documents or evidence. Example: "The documents suggest that there may be a correlation between the two variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The documents suggest that Philip Morris U.S.A. and the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation donated heavily.

The New York Times

The documents suggest MI6 tipped off Libya as to Mr Belhaj's location.

Independent

The documents suggest the Canadian government was still uncertain about whether it had the appetite for any future transfers.

The New York Times

The documents suggest the fierce internal argument within the organisation over its strategic direction is being won by hardliners.

The Guardian

The documents suggest several prominent voices in the campaign to deny established climate science are recipients of Heartland funding.

The Guardian

The documents suggest a broad network, including Somalis, Algerians, Bosnians, Uzbeks, Sudanese and natives of the Dagastan region of Russia.

The New York Times

The documents suggest Putin's family has benefited from this money – his friends' fortunes appear his to spend.

The Guardian

The documents suggest police handed over the transcripts of Kennedy's tapes as far back as May 2009.

The Guardian

The documents suggest, as Mr. Zuckerman acknowledged, that he faced numerous debts that required him to declare bankruptcy.

The New York Times

The documents suggest that a considerable degree of concern about news media scrutiny exists within the military.

The New York Times

The documents suggest that the effort bore fruit in several countries, including Russia, which sent Leonid J. Sinelnikov as a negotiator to the talks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "The documents suggest" to introduce interpretations or conclusions drawn from specific documents, ensuring you can reference the source if needed.

Common error

Avoid using "The documents suggest" to present definitive facts. It's for indicating potential interpretations or likely scenarios, not proven certainties.

Linguistic Context

The documents suggest functions as an introductory phrase that signals an inference or conclusion drawn from specific written material. It is used to present interpretations or possible implications rather than stating definitive facts. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase prefaces a statement that is supported, but not necessarily proven, by the documents in question.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The documents suggest is a versatile phrase used to introduce interpretations or conclusions based on document analysis. Ludwig's examples show its prevalence in news, science, and formal business contexts. The phrase is considered grammatically correct and functions to convey reasoned insights derived from documentation. The suggested alternatives, such as "The evidence indicates" or "The data implies", offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas. When using the phrase, remember to avoid overstating conclusions, as Ludwig AI correctly points out.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The evidence indicates

Focuses on the evidence as a direct indicator.

The data implies

Highlights the indirect suggestion from the data.

The facts suggest

Emphasizes the role of factual information in the suggestion.

The findings indicate

Highlights the results of a study or investigation.

The report suggests

Attributes the suggestion to a formal report.

It appears that

Uses a less direct and more tentative tone.

It would seem that

Implies a conclusion based on observation.

The documents reveal

Emphasizes the act of uncovering information.

The analysis points to

Highlights the direction or conclusion of an analysis.

One can infer from the documents

Specifies that the conclusion is drawn by deduction.

FAQs

How can I use "The documents suggest" in a sentence?

Use "The documents suggest" to introduce an inference or conclusion that you've drawn from reviewing specific documents. For example, "The documents suggest that the company was aware of the potential risks."

What's a formal alternative to "The documents suggest"?

In formal writing, you could use alternatives like "The evidence indicates", "The data implies", or "The findings indicate" for a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "The documents suggest" or "The documents prove"?

"The documents suggest" is more appropriate when you're presenting an interpretation, while "The documents prove" implies a definitive, irrefutable conclusion. Suggest is usually the safer, more accurate choice.

How does "The documents suggest" differ from "The documents show"?

"The documents show" implies direct evidence or clear demonstration, while "The documents suggest" implies a more indirect or inferred meaning. If the evidence needs interpretation, use "the documents suggest"; if it's straightforward, use "the documents show".