documenting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "documenting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of recording information or evidence for future reference. Example: "The team is documenting the progress of the project to ensure all milestones are tracked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Environment

Higher Education

Music

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He won first prize in 2010 in the live news photograph of the year category for his work documenting the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

The Guardian

"It is truly indescribable," says Sami Angawi, architect and founder of the Jeddah-based Hajj Research Centre, who has spent the last three decades researching and documenting the historic buildings of Mecca and Medina, few of which now remain.

The Guardian - Arts

I came to know the cartographer, artist and writer Tim Robinson, who has spent 40 years documenting the terrain of the west of Ireland: a region where, as he puts it, "the landscape … speaks Irish".

The Guardian - Books

These ideas, as well other material documenting the geography and geology of the region, have been assembled in Nowhereisland's "embassy", a travelling museum that will accompany the island overland.

The Guardian - Arts

The artist made a film to go alongside the works, documenting the devastation wrought by Israeli militia and bombing campaigns.

The Guardian - Arts

However without documenting the rates of bullying in academic contexts over time it is impossible to discern whether the problem is getting worse.

The Guardian

Beatriz Huertas Castillo works out of Lima and (along with José Carlos dos Reis Meirelles in Brazil) is one of the people who knows most about the subject, having spent much of her life travelling in, researching, documenting and writing about the very remote areas these peoples inhabit.

The Guardian

"But back in the day there was legend and mystique because people weren't documenting it all on their iPhones".

The Guardian - Music

A medical report documenting the stemming of severe nosebleeds by stuffing strips of cured pork up the nostrils (you literally couldn't make this stuff up).

The Guardian

But Google Street View also has great potential as a tool for documenting flaws in urban design – whether it's bad road layouts, ugly buildings or confusing signage – and thus represents a powerful way for anyone who cares about a city to help improve it.

The Guardian

Eijkelboom used a similar technique in an earlier project, Paris-New York-Shanghai, an exhibition and a trio of books documenting everyday life in those cities that was widely perceived as being a deadpan comment on globalisation's effect on national identity.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "documenting" processes or events, ensure that your records are accurate, thorough, and easily accessible. Use a consistent format for all entries to facilitate future retrieval and analysis.

Common error

Avoid using overly vague language when "documenting". Be specific and provide concrete details to ensure that your records are clear and useful. For example, instead of writing "Project progress was good", specify which milestones were achieved and what challenges were encountered.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "documenting" is as a verb in its present participle form, often functioning as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund. As shown in Ludwig, it indicates an ongoing action of recording or detailing information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Arts

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "documenting" functions as a present participle or gerund, indicating the ongoing act of recording information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various domains. It serves the purpose of preserving data, providing evidence, or creating historical records, as seen in numerous examples. While versatile, it tends to appear in neutral to formal registers, with a strong presence in news and media, as well as formal and scientific settings. For alternative expressions, consider "recording", "chronicling", or "archiving", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recording

Implies a more general act of capturing data, often without a specific purpose beyond preservation.

chronicling

Suggests a detailed, sequential account of events over a period of time.

registering

Often used in formal contexts, such as official records or scientific data collection.

cataloging

Refers to creating an organized list or inventory, especially of items or data.

archiving

Implies storing information for long-term preservation and access.

detailing

Focuses on providing comprehensive and specific information about something.

charting

Involves creating visual representations of data, such as graphs or maps.

logging

Common in technical fields, referring to automatically recording events or data.

capturing

Emphasizes the act of seizing or obtaining information, often through photography or video.

preserving

Highlights the act of maintaining something for future use or appreciation.

FAQs

How is "documenting" used in professional settings?

"Documenting" in professional environments often involves creating records of processes, decisions, and outcomes. This ensures accountability, facilitates training, and aids in future decision-making. Detailed documentation can be crucial for compliance and legal purposes.

What are some alternatives to using "documenting" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "recording", "chronicling", or "archiving". Each alternative implies a slightly different nuance in the act of recording information.

How does "documenting" differ from simply "writing" about something?

"Documenting" typically implies a systematic and objective approach to recording information, often with a specific purpose in mind, such as creating a historical record or providing evidence. "Writing", on the other hand, is a more general term that encompasses a wider range of activities, including creative expression and subjective reporting.

What types of information are typically worth "documenting"?

Information that is typically worth "documenting" includes processes, procedures, events, decisions, and outcomes that are important for future reference, compliance, or analysis. This can include everything from project milestones to legal agreements.