acquire documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire documents" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to collecting or obtaining documents, usually for research or evidence in a legal setting. For example: In order to prove my innocence, I will have to acquire documents from the police station.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"The tax police are here to acquire documents, and we are handing them over to them," Giorgio Perroni, a lawyer for the U.S. investment bank, told reporters.

The New York Times

And because the NCAA is a private organisation, it does not have the power to compel testimony or forcibly acquire documents against their owners' will.Consequently, the NCAA has sought to co-opt government to police its otherwise unenforceable regulations.

The Economist

Over the past several years, da Costa Meyer has worked with Marquand Library and the Manuscripts Division to acquire documents, letters, and portfolios from the 1920s pertaining to Chareau, some of which are in the exhibit.

Princeton University

International laws of war allow for an occupying power to acquire documents or archives deemed necessary for the conduct of war or occupation; the American military has acquired and continues to hold some 100 million pages of other archival material from Iraq.

The New York Times - Books

Mr Rowland alleged, in a writ issued last December, that Mr Al Fayed had tampered with his safe-deposit box.The alleged aim of this tampering was to acquire documents that would have put pressure on Mr Rowland to tell a parliamentary select committee that he had paid Michael Howard, then a minister in the industry department, £1.5m to start an inquiry into Mr Al Fayed's acquisition of Harrods.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Some acquired documents by bribing local officials; others were too poor even for that.

The Economist

Page confirmed to BuzzFeed that he was Podobnyy's "Male #1" associate, from whom Podobnyy, operating out of Russia's UN office, acquired documents about the US energy industry.

The Guardian

The reality and I've recently acquired documents that will bear this out is that this comely blond older gal is a humanoid robot built by a Manhattan Project-sized collaborative team of Wiccans, death panelists, Nazi sympathizers and Islamic feminists in order to beguile and then destroy the American workforce.

Vice

According to the London-based Independent newhicher, which acquired documents with a freedom-of-information request, "The Handbook for Ministers" includes helpful recommendations on ingratiating oneself to the staff with a round of Danish pastries and getting down to the gym once in a while.

Huffington Post

A new British administration, friendlier to the United States than the previous one, sent Lord Ashburton to Washington to negotiate directly with Webster, and Everett's role was reduced to acquiring documents from British records, and pressing the American case to the Foreign Office.

Wikipedia

The process of late registration was initiated for more then 130 children and 80 parents, and they acquired documents during this period.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing legal or formal documents, use "acquire documents" to denote obtaining or receiving documents through official or legitimate channels.

Common error

Avoid using "acquire documents" when you mean to describe the process of creating a document. "Acquire" refers to obtaining pre-existing documents, not generating new ones.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire documents" functions as a verb phrase, where "acquire" is the transitive verb and "documents" is the direct object. It describes the action of obtaining or coming into possession of documents. Ludwig's examples show it being used in various contexts to indicate this action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquire documents" is a grammatically correct and generally formal way to describe the act of obtaining documents. As Ludwig AI explains, its communicative purpose is typically to inform and describe a process, especially in contexts where the method or reason for acquisition matters. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media sources, but also appears in Academic and Formal & Business contexts. Alternatives include "obtain documents", "procure documents", and "secure documents", each with slightly different nuances. When using this phrase, remember that it refers to obtaining pre-existing documents and not creating new ones.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtain documents

Replaces "acquire" with a direct synonym, "obtain", maintaining the same meaning.

procure documents

Uses a more formal synonym, "procure", suggesting a more official or deliberate process.

secure documents

Emphasizes the effort involved in obtaining the documents, implying a challenge or competition.

gather documents

Suggests a collection process from multiple sources rather than a single act of acquisition.

collect documents

Similar to "gather", but implies a more organized and systematic approach to the collection.

get hold of documents

An informal way of saying "acquire documents".

come into possession of documents

A formal phrase that emphasizes the transfer of ownership or control of the documents.

gain access to documents

Focuses on the ability to view or use documents, rather than the act of physically obtaining them.

take receipt of documents

Emphasizes the act of formally receiving the documents, often in an official or legal context.

lay hands on documents

Emphasizes the effort required to obtain something.

FAQs

How to use "acquire documents" in a sentence?

You can use "acquire documents" to describe the process of obtaining or getting documents, usually for research or legal purposes. For example, "The lawyer needed to "obtain documents" to build a strong case."

What can I say instead of "acquire documents"?

Alternatives include ""obtain documents"", "procure documents", or "secure documents", depending on the context and level of formality.

Which is correct, "acquire documents" or "collect documents"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Acquire documents" implies obtaining them through some effort, while "collect documents" suggests gathering them from various sources.

What's the difference between "acquire documents" and "gain access to documents"?

"Acquire documents" means to take possession of the documents, while "gain access to documents" means to obtain the right to view or use them, without necessarily taking physical possession.