a raft of documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a raft of documents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large number or collection of documents, often in a formal or professional context. Example: "The lawyer presented a raft of documents to support her case during the trial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

That epiphany, backed up by his research into Mr. Cook's trading strategy, which included claims of no-interest loans from a Jordanian bank, led Mr. Schlobohm to take a raft of documents to the authorities.

The New York Times

A raft of documents obtained under FOIA chronicle exchanges between department officials and members of the National Park System Advisory Board before their en masse resignation earlier this year.

The Washington Post

Among a raft of documents from the Army investigation, obtained by The New York Times, is a brief statement by Mr. Israel in which he denies any knowledge of the abuses.

The New York Times

Now that we have been hit with a raft of documents from both special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York, Garrett Graff believes that Mueller's investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election is nearing the worst-case scenario.

The Washington Post

Federal prosecutors and lawyers for Wen Ho Lee, the government scientist accused of mishandling nuclear secrets at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, wrangled today over the defense's motion to suppress a raft of documents seized at Dr. Lee's home last year on the ground that the warrant used was unconstitutionally broad.

The New York Times

The Cancer Letter has released a raft of documents, including some that reflect uncertainty over FDA's role in regulating these technologies, which use gene patterns in tumors to predict how a patient will fare.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The release was postponed for two months because investigators received a raft of new documents, organizers have said.

The New York Times

In his three days of testimony, prosecutors have offered a raft of Adelphia documents that appear to mesh with Mr. Brown's claims.

The New York Times

There are diagnoses to decipher, housing issues to consider, health aides to vet and a raft of legal documents to complete.

The New York Times - Health

Judge Crotty's decision means the case now moves into discovery, in which the plaintiffs' lawyers will demand a raft of corporate documents and depositions from Mr. Blankfein and the two other Goldman executives named as defendants — the president, Gary D. Cohn, and the chief financial officer, David A. Viniar.

The New York Times

Last year, Snowden, who had been working at a NSA facility as an employee of Booz Allen Hamilton, leaked a raft of secret documents that revealed a vast U.S. government system for monitoring phone and Internet data.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context is appropriate for the idiom, as it's more suitable for general writing than highly technical documentation.

Common error

Avoid using "a raft of documents" when referring to a carefully curated or small collection. The phrase implies a substantial and often unwieldy amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a raft of documents" functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, referring to a large quantity or collection of documents. Ludwig AI demonstrates its usage across diverse contexts, reinforcing its versatility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a raft of documents" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to describe a large quantity of documents. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts. While "a raft of documents" is appropriate for formal writing, it should be used with awareness of the tone that you want to express. Remember to consider alternatives such as ""a large number of documents"" or ""numerous documents"" to precisely communicate the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large number of documents

This alternative replaces the idiomatic "raft" with a more literal description of quantity.

a considerable quantity of documents

Emphasizes that the number of documents is significant.

a substantial body of documents

Focuses on the collective mass or importance of the documents.

a comprehensive collection of documents

Highlights the completeness and thoroughness of the document set.

an extensive array of documents

Suggests a wide variety and arrangement of documents.

a mountain of documents

This alternative is less formal and suggests a very large, overwhelming quantity.

a sea of documents

This alternative is less formal and suggests a seemingly endless quantity.

a stack of documents

Replaces the metaphoric "raft" with a more literal image of a piled collection.

a wealth of documents

Implies that the documents are valuable or informative.

numerous documents

This alternative is less descriptive and simply states there are many documents.

FAQs

How can I use "a raft of documents" in a sentence?

You can use "a raft of documents" to describe a large quantity of documents, as in, "The investigation uncovered "a raft of documents" that implicated several high-ranking officials."

What's a good alternative to "a raft of documents"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a large number of documents", "a substantial body of documents", or "numerous documents".

Is "raft" used in "a raft of documents" literal or figurative?

In the phrase "a raft of documents", "raft" is used figuratively. It evokes the image of a large, floating mass, suggesting a considerable quantity or collection of documents, similar to other collective nouns like "a stack", or "a pile".

Is it appropriate to use "a raft of documents" in formal writing?

Yes, "a raft of documents" is generally appropriate for formal writing. While it is an idiom, it is commonly used in professional and academic contexts to describe a significant quantity of documents. However, ensure the tone fits the specific context and audience.