gathering documents

USAGE SUMMARY

"gathering documents" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to refer to the act of collecting, organizing, or retrieving documents. For example, "The lawyers spent their days gathering documents for the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Information Retrieval – gathering documents which contain key words or phrases.

Cornell University

"What, I should give up all my work and devote my time to gathering documents?

The Economist

Now, Mr. Modi is gathering documents for his hearing, while government officials have come under scrutiny.

The New York Times

Her office has also hired an outside law firm, Sullivan & Cromwell, to assist in gathering documents.

The New York Times

He began his own investigation, gathering documents from the area planning office and other government agencies.

The Washington Post

And Mueller's investigators are still gathering documents and other evidence to evaluate.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

We would like to thank the staff who took care of our patients' needs, and who were involved in gathering, documenting, verifying, forwarding, and processing the clinical data.

BMC Cancer

This summer's gathering – documented in this gallery – offered sartorial representations of the phrases "This aggression will not stand!" and "Does the Pope shit in the woods?", among others.

The Guardian - Film

KRS was responsible for the empirical data gathering (document analysis, in-depth interviews) and the interpretation of data.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

After gathering all documents, parents must request and attend a meeting with a Driver Control Hearing Officer (DCHO) at the Arkansas Driver Control Administration who reviews the documents and either approves or denies the age waiver request.

Injury Epidemiology

"We're in the process of gathering the documents they requested and submitting them," a Pediatrix spokesman said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic papers or research reports, using "gathering documents" emphasizes the systematic collection of sources and data.

Common error

Avoid using "gathering documents" when the action involves creating or drafting new documents, rather than collecting existing ones. Instead, consider using "preparing documentation" or "generating reports".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gathering documents" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the activity or process of collecting documents, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, where it appears in various contexts such as investigations and application processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gathering documents" is a grammatically correct and very common gerund phrase used to describe the process of collecting documents for various purposes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across different contexts, including news, academia, and science. While it is appropriate for both formal and informal communication, it's important to differentiate its meaning from similar actions like creating or organizing documents. Related phrases include "collecting documents", "compiling documents", and "assembling documents", each offering slight variations in meaning. The phrase is frequently found in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Washington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collecting documents

A more general term for obtaining documents from various places.

accumulating documents

Focuses on the gradual increase in the number of documents.

obtaining documents

A formal term for getting documents.

organizing documents

Emphasizes the arrangement and structuring of documents.

assembling documents

Suggests bringing documents together from different sources.

compiling documents

Implies creating a collection of documents, often for a specific purpose.

retrieving documents

Focuses on recovering or accessing documents that are stored somewhere.

procuring documents

Implies obtaining documents through formal or official channels.

locating documents

Emphasizes finding the specific documents that are needed.

securing documents

Highlights the act of obtaining and protecting documents.

FAQs

How can I use "gathering documents" in a sentence?

You can use "gathering documents" to describe the process of collecting paperwork, evidence, or information. For example, "The lawyer was responsible for "gathering documents" related to the case."

What are some alternatives to "gathering documents"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "collecting documents", "compiling documents", or "assembling documents".

Is "gathering documents" formal or informal?

"Gathering documents" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language. It is commonly used in legal, academic, and professional settings.

What's the difference between "gathering documents" and "organizing documents"?

"Gathering documents" refers to the act of collecting the documents, while "organizing documents" refers to the act of arranging them in a structured way. You typically gather first and then organize.