a burden of paperwork

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a burden of paperwork" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the overwhelming amount of documents or administrative tasks that one has to manage. Example: "After the merger, the team was faced with a burden of paperwork that seemed never-ending."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sometimes such requirements seem to subject authors to a burden of paperwork that equals the scientific effort, but intolerance of this is generated by a misinterpretation: science and ethics cannot stand alone, nor can they be neatly separated in any research project.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Also, says Dieter Helm who is an Oxford don as well as director of OXERA, a consultancy the burden of paperwork and lack of research funds are extra reasons not to become an academic.The market for economists works far better outside the universities than it does inside them.

The Economist

He added that a heavy burden of paperwork meant that despite long hours he felt overwhelmed and ineffective.

BBC

The current systems for reporting SAEs result in multiple reports of the same events to the same investigators and lead to a large burden of paperwork that often obscures the few important SAEs that may be reported.

Breast Cancer Research

Small businesses led efforts to repeal the information-reporting requirement, a little-noticed provision of the new health care law that they said would impose a huge new burden of paperwork and administrative work.

The New York Times

STEPHANIE BREEDLOVE and her husband founded Breedlove & Associates 16 years ago to help families who (legally) hire a nanny with the crushing burden of paperwork that this entails.

The Economist

She worked in a Huntington nursing home and found the burden of paperwork ever more difficult to bear.

The New York Times

Increased fatigue may lead to a lowered capacity for tolerating normal issues that arise during care, such as the burden of paperwork during registration, time waiting for appointments, or procedures that are somewhat lengthy.

BMC Health Services Research

We would also like to thank Mrs. Betty Eldon of the Institute of American History who accepted the added burden of paperwork connected with this transcription project with tolerance and good humor.

Stanford University

But according to a memorandum on the Labor Department's Web site, dated Sept. 9, the goal of the exemption in the case of recovery work associated with Hurricane Katrina is to reduce the burden of paperwork on government contractors and so encourage more companies to jump into assisting with rebuilding from the storm damage.

The New York Times

The burden of paperwork we had to tackle as free agents was shocking.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a burden of paperwork", be specific about the type of paperwork to emphasize the context, for instance, "a burden of tax paperwork" or "a burden of regulatory paperwork".

Common error

Avoid using "a burden of paperwork" in very casual conversations; simpler terms like "lots of forms" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a burden of paperwork" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, denoting a large quantity of administrative documents that create difficulty or stress. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a burden of paperwork" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe an overwhelming amount of administrative documents or forms. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Its frequency is high, particularly in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While appropriate for most situations, simpler terms might be better for very casual settings. Related phrases include "excessive documentation" and "administrative overload", offering alternative ways to express the same concept. Using the phrase accurately and being specific about the context can significantly enhance communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessive documentation

Focuses on the excessiveness of the documentation involved.

administrative overload

Highlights the overwhelming nature of administrative tasks.

crushing amount of forms

Emphasizes the large and oppressive quantity of forms.

mountain of documents

Uses a metaphor to describe the large quantity of documents.

extensive red tape

Emphasizes bureaucratic processes and regulations.

paperwork deluge

Suggests a flood of paperwork.

proliferation of forms

Highlights the rapid increase in the number of forms.

complex compliance requirements

Focuses on the difficulty and intricacy of meeting regulatory demands.

onerous administrative duties

Emphasizes the burdensome nature of the administrative tasks.

cumbersome documentation process

Highlights the awkward and inefficient documentation.

FAQs

How can I replace "a burden of paperwork" in a sentence?

You can use phrases like "excessive documentation", "administrative overload", or "mountain of documents" depending on the context.

What does "a burden of paperwork" mean?

It refers to an overwhelming amount of administrative documents or forms that create a significant workload or difficulty.

Is it correct to say "a burden of document" instead of "a burden of paperwork"?

While "document" can refer to a single piece of paperwork, "paperwork" is more commonly used to describe the collective mass of documents. Therefore, "a burden of paperwork" is generally the more appropriate choice.

What is the difference between "a burden of paperwork" and "red tape"?

"A burden of paperwork" refers specifically to the quantity of documents, while "red tape" describes the bureaucratic processes and regulations that cause delays and difficulties, which may or may not involve a lot of physical documents.