documents were requested

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "documents were requested" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone has asked for specific documents to be provided or sent. Example: "In response to the inquiry, it was noted that several documents were requested for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It was not clear who the documents were requested from and whether the requests were fulfilled.

The New York Times

The documents were requested in late October by Mr. Levin, who heads the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

The New York Times

The documents were requested last month by David F. D'Alessandro, John Hancock's chairman, as an ethics and management crisis blossomed around Lloyd Ward, the U.S.O.C.'s chief executive.

The New York Times - Sports

"These Clinton documents were requested as part of a Congressional subpoena, and this is a situation where we believe the G.A.O. has overstepped its authority".

The New York Times

In particular subject and company tailored answers, talks and guidance documents were requested very often.

Environmental Sciences Europe

The fax service reported that 5,589 documents were requested regarding the plague outbreak.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The absence of legal recognition for the gender with which trans people identify means every juncture of daily life, when documents are requested or appearance is scrutinised, becomes fraught with potential for violence and humiliation.

The Guardian

(i) If documents are requested for commercial use, the Commission will charge the employee's hourly pay rate plus 16% for benefits for document search time and for document review time, and 15 cents per page for duplication.

Cornell University

The format of the documents being requested also needs to be clarified.

Forbes

Internal communications, analysis and documents are requested for most of these questions.

TechCrunch

If additional documents are requested of your noncustodial parent, those may be submitted to the College Board IDOC service as well.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "documents were requested", ensure the context clearly indicates who requested the documents and from whom.

Common error

Avoid using "documents were requested" without specifying the requestor or the recipient. Clarify who made the request to enhance clarity and context for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "documents were requested" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the documents were the object of a request. The use of the passive voice emphasizes the documents rather than the entity making the request. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "documents were requested" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that documents have been asked for. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase appears across a range of contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. While not the most frequent expression, it provides a clear and neutral way to convey that documents were the subject of a request. For clarity, it's best practice to specify who made the request. Alternatives like "documents were solicited" or "documents were sought" can be used to subtly shift the nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

documents were solicited

Replaces "requested" with "solicited", implying a more proactive seeking of the documents.

documents were sought

Uses "sought" instead of "requested", suggesting a deliberate search or attempt to obtain the documents.

documents were called for

Replaces "requested" with "called for", indicating a demand or requirement for the documents.

documents were required

Emphasizes the necessity of the documents, replacing "requested" with "required".

documents were subpoenaed

Indicates a legal demand for the documents, replacing "requested" with "subpoenaed".

a request for documents was made

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the act of requesting rather than the documents themselves.

submission of documents was asked

Focuses on the act of submitting the documents and is a passive construction.

documents were asked to be provided

Adds a layer of indirectness by focusing on the action expected to be taken.

there was a demand for documents

Shifts the focus to the demand itself rather than the act of requesting.

documents were under requisition

Implies the documents were formally demanded, usually by an authority.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "documents were requested" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "documents were solicited" or "documents were sought".

What is a suitable alternative to "documents were requested" in legal contexts?

In legal settings, a more precise alternative might be "documents were subpoenaed" to indicate a formal legal demand.

Is it necessary to specify who requested the documents when using "documents were requested"?

While not always grammatically required, specifying the requestor enhances clarity and provides important context. For example: "The documents were requested by the Senate committee."

What's the difference between saying "documents were requested" and "there was a request for documents"?

Saying "documents were requested" focuses on the documents themselves as the subject, whereas "there was a request for documents" emphasizes the act of requesting. The choice depends on the intended emphasis.