obscure documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obscure documents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to documents that are not easily understood or are difficult to access or find. Example: "The researcher spent hours sifting through obscure documents in the archives to find relevant information for her thesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

By examining obscure documents and pestering the peons at the bottom of the Nixon White House hierarchy, they pried loose the secrets of the mighty.

The New Yorker

While most spending is already a matter of public record, Mr. Tapscott argues that it is often buried in obscure documents.

The New York Times

According to the leaked papers Mossack Fonseca's employees attempted to "obscure" documents and "clean" computer logs after it was issued a subpoena by a federal court in Las Vegas.

The Guardian

People on the left, no less than extreme right-wingers, are quick to suspect conspiracies, and tend to look for hidden proof, preferably in obscure documents, that would unmask the conspirators and make the powerful look foolish.

The New Yorker

The alliance also uses e-mail alerts to get dozens of people to write comments about public meetings affecting wild lands and about obscure documents, like decisions on grazing made by the federal Bureau of Land Management, which controls most of the public land in Utah.

The New York Times

"There is no point in burying bad news in obscure documents," Sir Andrew said.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This very obscure document claims to explain the figures of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Peeling away the plump layers of protective wrapping, the writer opened the big book and out fell an obscure document.

The Guardian - Books

One obscure document from the case is the F.B.I.'s writeup of an interview, on April 16, 2009, with a government informant named Richard Choo-Beng Lee, who had once worked for Rajaratnam and then at S.A.C. Capital, one of the largest hedge funds.

The New Yorker

The rude waiter, the dismissive sales clerk, the low-ranking bureaucrat who demands still another obscure document are all playing a perverted version of a seduction game that glorifies lingering.

The New York Times

After he was released he devoted himself to the detailed textual analysis of an obscure document: a letter from a 19th-century critic, Vissarion Belinsky, to the novelist, Nikolai Gogol, criticising his "sermons" in a country where serfdom was tantamount to slavery.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "obscure documents", ensure the context clarifies why the documents are obscure. Is it due to limited access, complex language, or historical context?

Common error

Avoid using "obscure documents" as a vague descriptor. Instead, provide specific details about what makes the documents obscure or difficult to understand. Consider rephrasing to be more specific like "difficult to interpret documents" if this is the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obscure documents" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "obscure" modifies the noun "documents". This defines a specific type of document that is not easily accessible or understood. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

26%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "obscure documents" is a grammatically sound and usable term referring to documents that are not easily found or understood. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and appropriate for use in various contexts. While commonly found in News & Media, it also appears in Science and Encyclopedias, denoting a neutral formality. When using this phrase, ensure context is provided about why the documents are considered "obscure". Related phrases include "hidden documents" and "inaccessible documents", offering alternative ways to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hidden documents

Highlights the fact that the documents are not easily found or accessed.

Little-known documents

Emphasizes the lack of general awareness or familiarity with the documents.

Inaccessible documents

Stresses the difficulty in obtaining or viewing the documents.

Confidential papers

Emphasizes the secrecy or restricted access associated with the documents.

Classified files

Highlights the official designation of secrecy applied to the documents.

Secret records

Focuses on the hidden or private nature of the documents.

Unclear documents

Highlights the lack of detail contained in the documents.

Arcane records

Highlights the complex and specialized nature of the documents' content.

Uncommon documents

Focuses on the rarity and limited availability of the documents.

Esoteric documents

Stresses the highly specialized knowledge required to understand the documents.

FAQs

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

You can use "obscure documents" to refer to documents that are difficult to find, understand, or access, as in, "The historian spent years researching "obscure documents" to uncover the truth about the past".

What are some synonyms for "obscure documents"?

Some synonyms for "obscure documents" include "hidden documents", "inaccessible documents", or "little-known documents".

Is it better to say "obscure documents" or "ambiguous documents"?

The choice between "obscure documents" and "ambiguous documents" depends on the context. "Obscure documents" implies that the documents are hard to find or not well-known, while "ambiguous documents" suggests that the documents are unclear or open to multiple interpretations.

What makes a document "obscure"?

A document can be considered "obscure" if it's "difficult to access", poorly indexed, written in complex language, or relates to a niche subject matter.