filed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "filed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to submitting documents, legal matters, or organizing information. Example: "The report was filed with the appropriate authorities last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No charges have yet been filed.

The New York Times

So far, even though the site has received more than a hundred legal threats, almost no one has filed suit.

The Economist

And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here.

The Guardian

Confrontations like Sheehan's are "a pretty typical situation that happens across the country these days", said Ron Honberg, director of policy and legal affairs at the National Alliance for Mental Illness (Nami), which filed a brief supporting her suit.

The Guardian

Julian Borger, the Guardian's diplomatic editor, has now filed a piece about it (which you can read in full here).

The Guardian

He said a paper he filed on 24 November to Fifa showed why "when viewed in the context of the report it purported to summarise, no principled approach could justify the Eckert decision's edits, omissions and additions".

The Guardian - Sport

Lucas said the legal action, filed with the Geneva civil court, aimed to force Waza to enforce its code of ethics, or to expel Jaza.

The Guardian

The State Department released a total of four emails between Clinton and her top advisers as part of a Freedom of Information Act request filed in 2013 by AP, which sought Clinton's correspondence with senior advisers over a four-year period relating to drone strikes overseas and US surveillance programs.

The Guardian

Only recently, Facebook was accused of taking the Treasury for a ride when the figures showed the British arm paid its 90 UK-based staff an average of £275,000 each in 2011 while contributing just £195,890 to the Treasury's coffers, according to the firm's latest accounts filed at Companies House.

The Guardian

This last scandal reached boiling point recently when the editor of the Malaysia Today website filed a court document implicating deputy PM Najib Tun Razak's wife in the murder.

The Guardian - Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.11am BST11 11 My colleague Alan Travis, the Guardian's home affairs editor, has filed a story on the ONS figures about Bulgarians and Romanians in the workforce.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "filed" in legal contexts, ensure that you specify where the document was "filed", such as "filed with the court" or "filed at the registry."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "filed" (related to submitting or organizing) with "filled" (related to making something full). For example, it's incorrect to say "The application was filled", when you mean "The application was filed."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "filed" is a past participle or past tense verb, indicating an action of formally submitting or arranging something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this form is commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "filed" serves as a past tense or past participle form indicating the action of submitting, registering, or organizing information. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that this term is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news, formal business, and even some scientific contexts. While alternatives such as "submitted" or "registered" exist, the specific context dictates the most appropriate choice. To avoid confusion, remember that "filed" relates to submission and organization, not fullness. By following these guidelines, you can ensure accurate and effective usage of the word "filed" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

submitted

Focuses on the act of formally presenting something for consideration.

lodged

Emphasizes the action of formally presenting a complaint or claim.

registered

Highlights the act of officially recording something.

recorded

Stresses the action of documenting something for future reference.

submitted formally

Adds emphasis to the official aspect of the submission.

duly submitted

Implies that the submission was done correctly and according to procedure.

placed on record

Highlights the fact that something has been officially documented.

entered into the system

Focuses on the act of inputting data into a database or registry.

cataloged

Implies the item has been sorted and entered into a list.

placed in archives

Highlights that document has been placed in records.

FAQs

How to use "filed" in a sentence?

You can use "filed" to describe the act of submitting documents, like "The lawsuit was filed in court." Or, to describe organizing items, as in, "The documents were filed alphabetically."

What can I say instead of "filed" when referring to a document?

You can use alternatives like "submitted", "lodged", or "registered" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "filed a complaint" or "filled a complaint"?

"Filed a complaint" is the correct phrase. "Filed a complaint" means that you have formally submitted a complaint. "Filled a complaint" is incorrect.

What's the difference between "filed" and "archived"?

"Filed" often implies a more immediate or active stage of record-keeping, while "archived" suggests long-term storage. Something is "filed" for easy access, but then it may be "archived" when its immediate use has passed.