a mountain of paperwork

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mountain of paperwork" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an overwhelming amount of documents or administrative tasks that need to be completed. Example: "After the merger, the legal team was faced with a mountain of paperwork to sort through before finalizing the deal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"In the past, my report would have gotten lost in a mountain of paperwork.

The New York Times - Style

The rest is "frontlog" — a mountain of paperwork with nobody to process it.

The New York Times

At the end of a long day in clinic, we will still have a mountain of paperwork to get through.

The Guardian

Don't come to her office expecting the stereotypic mousy recluse buried beneath a mountain of paperwork, says Stefania Ricci, the museum director and archivist for Salvatore Ferragamo.

The New York Times

Some advocates for small farms and organic food producers said the legislation would destroy their industry under a mountain of paperwork.

The New York Times - Health

Whether you're planning on a year in Provence or a lifetime in Lagos, preparing to move to another country involves time and money - and a mountain of paperwork.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Bill Chase, Geneva A mountain of debt?

The New York Times

The general counsel's office will likely soon face a mountain of legal paperwork in connection with the company's initial public offering, expected to take place in 2014.

The New York Times

But hope is fading, just like the ink of that signature on the Bruce Springsteen poster above his desk, which like everything else in here is suffocating under a mountain of moldering paperwork.

The New York Times

Not all the changes proposed by the Treasury Department are directed toward small-business owners but the ones that do, those representing small business argue, will create a mountain of new paperwork that will be cumbersome and costly.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, the Department of Labor and Wall Street's version of transparency, which also expressed in a recent Wall Street Journal article, is to create a mountain of additional paperwork that nobody understands but the bureaucrats responsible for creating it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a mountain of paperwork" when you want to emphasize the overwhelming quantity and burdensome nature of administrative tasks or documents. This imagery evokes a sense of being burdened and potentially slowed down by the volume of work.

Common error

Avoid using "a mountain of paperwork" when referring to digital documents or tasks. The phrase evokes a physical pile, so using it for purely digital work might sound incongruous. Consider alternatives like "a deluge of data" or "an overwhelming number of digital files" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mountain of paperwork" functions as a noun phrase acting as an object or subject complement. It metaphorically describes a large quantity of administrative documents, often implying a burdensome or overwhelming task. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a mountain of paperwork" is a common and correct expression used to describe a large and often overwhelming quantity of administrative documents. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically sound and widely used. This phrase appears frequently in News & Media and scientific contexts. While it's acceptable in formal writing, more neutral alternatives like "extensive documentation" might be preferred in some situations. When using the phrase, be mindful of its metaphorical nature and avoid applying it literally to purely digital contexts. The phrase implies not only a large quantity but also the effort and potential frustration involved in processing the documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an overwhelming number of documents

Emphasizes the sheer number of documents and the feeling they create.

a large quantity of documents

Replaces the metaphor with a more literal description of the volume.

endless paperwork

Focuses on the seemingly never-ending nature of the paperwork.

an excessive amount of forms

Focuses on the type of paperwork, specifically forms, and emphasizes excessiveness.

a huge stack of files

Replaces 'paperwork' with 'files' and uses 'stack' to convey the size.

an overwhelming workload of documentation

Highlights the workload and specifies that it consists of documentation.

a daunting amount of administrative tasks

Shifts the focus to the tasks related to the paperwork, highlighting the feeling of being overwhelmed.

a backlog of documents

Implies that the documents are waiting to be processed.

a sea of red tape

Uses a different metaphor ('sea') to describe the extensive bureaucracy.

tons of forms to fill out

Informal way of saying there are many forms.

FAQs

How can I use "a mountain of paperwork" in a sentence?

You can use "a mountain of paperwork" to describe an overwhelming amount of administrative tasks. For example, "The new regulations created "a mountain of paperwork" for small businesses".

What's a good alternative to "a mountain of paperwork"?

Alternatives include "a large quantity of documents", "an excessive amount of forms", or "an overwhelming number of documents", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a mountain of paperwork" in formal writing?

Yes, "a mountain of paperwork" is acceptable in formal writing, especially when emphasizing the burdensome nature of the administrative work. However, consider alternatives like "extensive documentation" for a more neutral tone.

What does "a mountain of paperwork" imply?

"A mountain of paperwork" implies not only a large quantity of documents but also the time, effort, and potential frustration involved in processing them. It suggests that the task is daunting and may require significant resources to complete.