a serious document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a serious document" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a document that is formal, important, or requires careful consideration. Example: "Before making any decisions, we need to review a serious document outlining the terms of the agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"The historians and the judges who say, 'Oh Magna Carta, its not really a serious document and all it does is stop you from putting in weirs to catch eels,' I think they are wrong because they don't see the bigger picture of how important it's become in our national legend".

The Guardian

The spokesman for the current archbishop, Rowan Williams, said: "This is a serious document, teaching on important ecclesiological matters and of significance to the churches' commitment to the full, visible unity to the one church of Jesus Christ". The Vatican's statement had fewer misgivings about the Orthodox Church, which had "true sacraments" and a genuine priesthood.

The Guardian

The "dossier" in question was laid out like a serious document, or a semi-serious one, with, for example, curt diction and the last names of notable people capitalized, speculating, for example, about the role of "TRUMP's lawyer, Michael COHEN in covert relationship with Russia".

The New Yorker

It had lots of pretty, glossy pictures, but it was not a serious document making a solid case for committing so much of our national attention and treasure.

Huffington Post

"We will be presenting our own budget, a serious document that will reflect the type of path we feel we should be taking to address the fiscal situation, including addressing entitlement reforms," Cantor said.

Huffington Post

Officials familiar with Assad's disclosure -- the first step in complying with an ambitious U.S.-Russian plan to seize or destroy his chemical weapons by mid-2014 -- described it as "a serious document" that comprises scores of pages and is "surprising" in its thoroughness.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

President Vladimir V. Putin said at the talks that a letter from President Bush containing the proposals was "a very serious document".

The New York Times

He released an economic plan the other week that was a pretty serious document, at least by the standards of politics these days.

The New York Times

Mr. Putin said that a letter from Mr. Bush, which had not previously been disclosed, was "a very serious document".

The New York Times

The microblogging site got a homepage redesign, officially adopted the word Tweet on its site, launched Twitter 101 and had a pretty serious document leak fiasco.

TechCrunch

Suzanne Evans, the party policy chief, confirmed the U-turn as she set out how the manifesto would be a much more serious document than the 2010 one, which was later dismissed by Farage as nonsense and drivel.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a document intended for public consumption, use "a serious document" to signal that the reader should approach it with due diligence and attentiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "a serious document" when describing casual or light-hearted reading material. The adjective 'serious' suggests that the document is important and requires careful consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a serious document" functions as a noun phrase, where 'serious' modifies the noun 'document'. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and used to describe a document that demands careful consideration.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a serious document" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe a written work that requires careful and thoughtful consideration. Ludwig indicates the phrase is correct and usable, often highlighting the importance or formal nature of the document. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, as well as scientific publications. Alternative phrases, such as "an important document" or "a formal document", can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an important document

Replaces 'serious' with 'important', emphasizing the significance of the document.

a formal document

Substitutes 'serious' with 'formal', highlighting the structured and official nature of the document.

a critical document

Uses 'critical' instead of 'serious', focusing on the document's essential nature.

a significant document

Replaces 'serious' with 'significant', emphasizing the document's notable impact.

a crucial document

Similar to 'critical', but can imply time-sensitivity. It stresses the importance of the document.

a weighty document

Uses 'weighty' to imply the document has substance and importance.

a substantial document

Replaces 'serious' with 'substantial', highlighting the document's comprehensive nature.

a comprehensive document

Highlights the thoroughness and detail of the document.

a detailed document

Replaces 'serious' with 'detailed', focusing on the depth of information.

an in-depth document

Uses 'in-depth' to emphasize the thorough and extensive nature of the document.

FAQs

How can I use "a serious document" in a sentence?

You might say, "The committee needs to review "a serious document" before making a final decision", indicating the importance of the material.

What's a good alternative to using "a serious document"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "an important document", "a formal document", or "a critical document".

Is "a serious document" the same as "an official document"?

While both suggest importance, "a serious document" emphasizes the need for careful consideration, whereas "an official document" highlights its authoritative source or status.

When is it appropriate to refer to something as "a serious document"?

It's appropriate when the content is formal, requires careful attention, and has potentially significant consequences or implications.