collecting documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collecting documents" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe the action of gathering or gathering together various documents or papers. Example: "Before starting my research project, I spent a lot of time collecting documents such as journal articles, statistics, and government reports."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The group is collecting documents from a wide array of customers.

The New York Times

The FBI is also collecting documents from government offices, AP reported.

The Guardian

Corporate registries say they cannot take on more duties: their job is collecting documents, not checking them.

The Economist

Mr. Reilly wrote that Copley was interested in collecting documents that gave some feeling for the people behind the history.

The New York Times - Arts

When the police started collecting documents and cellphones, Ms. Assabalani, at her boss's urging, flashed her Yemeni passport.

The New York Times

Today, Ms. Gao said Mr. Li had asked for help in collecting documents on China's analysis of cross-strait relations and the general situation in Taiwan.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Generally speaking, terminology management refers to a range of activities involved in designing, collecting, documenting and processing data to create a terminology resource.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

He collects documents and, with a grasp of English, deals with the police.

Independent

The Catholic church collects documents and conducts interviews about candidates for sainthood, before passing the material on to the pope.

The Guardian

As the Syrians collected documents, Wiley hired military and political analysts, investigators, translators, and lawyers in Europe.

The New Yorker

A year ago, Google announced its Endangered Languages Project, a global crowdsourcing initiative that hopes to collect documents and recordings of endangered languages directly from speakers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider whether "collecting documents" accurately conveys the intent. Alternatives like "gathering", "compiling", or "obtaining" might be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "collecting documents" when the action is more about creating or generating documents rather than simply gathering existing ones.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collecting documents" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It commonly describes the action of acquiring or gathering papers/information. Ludwig shows that it is used in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

38%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "collecting documents" is a grammatically correct and commonly used gerund phrase that describes the action of gathering or accumulating documents. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, primarily news and media and scientific writing. While alternatives like "gathering documents" or "obtaining documents" might be more precise depending on the specific situation, "collecting documents" serves as a clear and straightforward way to convey the act of document accumulation. Remember to use it when you are truly gathering documents and not creating them. Overall, it is a versatile phrase that effectively communicates the process of document collection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gathering documents

Emphasizes the act of bringing documents together from different places.

obtaining documents

Focuses on acquiring or gaining possession of documents.

compiling documents

Highlights the process of assembling documents into a collection or report.

acquiring documents

Stresses the process of coming to possess documents, often through a deliberate effort.

securing documents

Implies ensuring the documents are safe and available for use.

retrieving documents

Suggests finding and extracting documents from a storage system or location.

assembling documents

Focuses on the methodical gathering of documents for a specific purpose.

procuring documents

Emphasizes the official or formal acquisition of documents.

accumulating documents

Highlights a gradual increase in the number of documents over time.

amassing documents

Suggests gathering a large quantity of documents, often for research or archival purposes.

FAQs

What does "collecting documents" mean?

The phrase "collecting documents" refers to the action of gathering or accumulating various documents, typically for a specific purpose such as research, investigation, or record-keeping.

What are some alternatives to "collecting documents"?

You can use alternatives such as "gathering documents", "obtaining documents", or "compiling documents" depending on the context.

Is "collecting documents" formal or informal language?

"Collecting documents" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding language and the specific situation.

How can I use "collecting documents" in a sentence?

You can use "collecting documents" in a sentence like, "The historian spent years collecting documents related to the French Revolution," or "The company is collecting documents to prepare for the audit."