documents that were sought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "documents that were sought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to specific documents that someone has requested or is looking for. Example: "The investigation revealed the documents that were sought by the legal team during the trial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Hearings by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations documented widespread fraud among dubious institutions that were seeking to capitalize on federal student aid.

Huffington Post

The A.C.L.U. is also a litigant in a separate Freedom of Information Act case in New York that is seeking documents related to the killing of American citizens, including Mr. Awlaki, who was killed in a C.I.A. drone strike in Yemen in 2011.

The New York Times

"I don't think there's any update just yet because they got documents that were in Chinese and they were seeking to verify them," Davies said of the international federation's investigation of the Chinese women's team.

The New York Times - Sports

Ofcom is seeking to obtain documents that were ordered to be disclosed in the civil litigation between numerous complainants and News Group Newspapers".

The New York Times

Police confirmed that they found a pipe with marijuana in the rented SUV as well as MMA and rental car documents that were in Jones' name, and after seeking an arrest warrant on Monday, Jones turned himself into the Albuquerque Police Department where he was held at Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center.

Independent

He has been documenting the drone attacks for the Foundation for Fundamental Rights, a Pakistani nonprofit that is seeking redress for civilian casualties.

The New Yorker

That is, seeking falsification.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

[A18.] Liberty Mutual Plan Is Criticized Documents that are to go out today seeking policyholder approval of a reorganization of Liberty Mutual Insurance into a hybrid insurer were criticized by a Boston judge.

The New York Times

Documents that are to go out today seeking policyholder approval of a reorganization of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company into a hybrid insurer "may not be fraudulent," but they heavily accentuate the positive and gloss over the negative, a judge in Boston said this week.

The New York Times

Apple goes even further and blames the musician's attorney's for seeking documents that are "broad but indiscriminate".

TechCrunch

Hume says that it's totally a big cover-up, and the documents being sought are clearly not the sort of "advisory" documents that are protected by the "strongest claims of privilege".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "documents that were sought", ensure the context clearly indicates who was seeking the documents and for what purpose. Providing this information enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessive use of passive voice can make writing sound unclear and indirect. In some cases, rephrasing the sentence in active voice (e.g., "Investigators sought the documents") can improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "documents that were sought" functions as a noun phrase in the passive voice, modifying a noun (documents) and indicating that the documents were the object of a search or request. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "documents that were sought" refers to documents that were requested or pursued, typically within a formal or investigative context. Ludwig AI states that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While the phrase is technically sound, attention should be paid to avoiding overuse of the passive voice and ensuring clear context. As there is no actual usage in the search data, its use is mostly recommended in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

documents that were requested

Replaces "sought" with the more common and direct "requested".

documents that were pursued

Substitutes "sought" with "pursued", emphasizing the active effort to obtain the documents.

documents that were being looked for

Rephrases using "being looked for", which is more descriptive and less formal than "sought".

documents that were aimed for

Replaces "sought" with "aimed for", suggesting a specific target or goal in acquiring the documents.

documents that were solicited

Uses "solicited" instead of "sought", implying a formal request or application for the documents.

documents that were asked for

A simpler and more informal way of saying the documents were sought.

documents that were desired

Replaces "sought" with "desired", highlighting the element of wanting or needing the documents.

documents under request

A more concise phrase indicating that the documents are currently being requested.

documents that were investigated

Emphasizes that the documents are being looked at for suspicious or illegal activity.

documents of interest

Highlights that the documents are relevant or important to the receiver.

FAQs

What does "documents that were sought" mean?

The phrase "documents that were sought" refers to specific documents that someone or some entity was trying to find or obtain, often through a formal request or investigation.

Is "documents that were sought" formal or informal?

The phrase leans towards the formal side. For more casual contexts, using alternatives like "documents that were asked for" may be more appropriate.

How can I use "documents that were sought" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The investigation revealed the "documents that were sought" by the legal team during the initial phase of the inquiry."

What are some alternatives to "documents that were sought"?

Some alternatives include "requested documents", "documents that were requested", or "documents that were pursued", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.