documentation were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "documentation were" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when referring to multiple documents or a collection of documents, but the subject should be plural. Example: "The documentation were submitted late, causing delays in the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Secondary data (company documentation) were used too.

Procedia Economics and Finance

Many interviews and extensive job search documentation were required before a family could receive any benefits.

The New York Times

But 51percentt acknowledged they were not familiar with what forms of documentation were acceptable.

The New York Times

The Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans who could not produce proper documentation were detained.

The Washington Post

I just wish its documentation were shown in an exhibition that actually did some justice to the genre it reinterprets.

The Guardian - Arts

Joseph R. Mason, a finance professor who holds the Louisiana Bankers Association chair at Louisiana State University, said that concerns about proper foreclosure documentation were overblown.

The New York Times

As part of this research an array of requirements documentation were analysed, interviews were performed with numerous facility management personnel, and BIMs from four projects were analysed.

Automation in Construction

In a 2006 e-mail, he expressed concern that loans requiring scant documentation were allowing borrowers to lie about their finances.

The Economist

Deloitte, in its response to the board, stated that at the bank, "the audit procedures performed, the conclusions reached and the related documentation were appropriate in the circumstances".

The New York Times

Prior to embedding, macroscopic evaluation and photo documentation were accomplished.

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

Barriers to documentation were identified through brain storming and email solicitation.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure verb agreement. If referring to "documentation" as a singular, collective noun, use "was". If referring to multiple documents, use "documents were".

Common error

Avoid using "documentation were" when "documentation" is intended as a singular, collective noun. Use "documentation was" instead. For example: "The documentation of the process was thorough."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "documentation were" functions as a subject and verb within a clause. However, it is grammatically incorrect because "documentation" is generally treated as a singular, collective noun. As Ludwig AI notes, the correct form is typically "documentation was" or "documents were".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "documentation were" appears frequently across various domains, including science, news, and business, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The noun "documentation" is usually treated as a singular, collective noun, which requires the verb "was". The alternative, "documents were", uses the plural "documents" for grammatical accuracy when referring to multiple specific documents. While common, careful writers should prefer either "documentation was" or "documents were" to avoid grammatical errors. Although the examples count is high, the grammatical error impacts the phrase's overall quality and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

documentation was

Changes the verb conjugation to singular to match the noun "documentation".

documents were

Replaces "documentation" with the plural noun "documents" to agree with the plural verb "were".

records were

Substitutes "documentation" with "records", implying a collection of documented information.

files were

Uses "files" as a more specific alternative to "documentation", suggesting digital or physical files.

the paperwork was

Replaces "documentation" with "paperwork", offering a more informal term for documents.

the evidence was

Emphasizes the evidentiary aspect of the documentation.

supporting materials were

Highlights the role of the documentation as supporting evidence.

the data was

Focuses on the data contained within the documentation.

the reports were

Specifically refers to reports included in the documentation.

case files were

Implies that the files are related to a case.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "documentation were"?

No, the correct phrasing depends on the intended meaning. If "documentation" is used as a singular collective noun, the correct form is "documentation was". If referring to multiple documents, use "documents were".

When should I use "documentation was" instead of "documents were"?

Use "documentation was" when referring to the body of documentation as a whole. Use "documents were" when referring to individual documents.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "documentation were"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "documentation was", "documents were", or even more specific terms like "records were".

Which is more appropriate in formal writing: "documentation was" or "documents were"?

Both "documentation was" and "documents were" can be appropriate in formal writing, as long as they are grammatically correct and used in the right context. The choice depends on whether you are referring to a body of information or individual documents.