official documents

USAGE SUMMARY

"official documents" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to documents that have been issued or created by a company, government, or other organization. For example: "The court's ruling was based on the contents of the official documents provided by the defendant."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Official documents were scattered.

The New York Times

Submit all required official documents.

Columbia University

Numbers and official documents lie.

The New York Times - Books

Who holds the official documents?

The New York Times

Data are derived from national surveys and official documents.

Social Science & Medicine

Correspondence, travel diaries, official documents, and photographs.

Cornell University

Official documents only tell you so much.

The Guardian - Opinion

Both are official documents published by the government or its agency.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

In Italy, honorifics are typically not used on official documents.

The New York Times

Official documents and speeches are infamous for their empty blather.

The New York Times

An embedded case study design was employed using interviews of actors and analysis of official documents.

Government Information Quarterly

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, cite "official documents" according to the required style guide (e.g., APA, MLA) to avoid plagiarism.

Common error

Avoid basing arguments solely on "official documents" without considering potential biases or limitations. Always cross-reference information with other reliable sources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "official documents" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It identifies specific records recognized as authoritative or sanctioned by an organization or government. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate and acceptable use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

33%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "official documents" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to refer to documents issued or created by an organization or government. It appears most often in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When writing, ensure that these documents are properly sourced and consider potential biases. Alternatives include "legal documents" and "government records", depending on the specific context. This phrase serves to provide factual information, and Ludwig's examples confirm its versatile and authoritative usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

legal documents

Focuses specifically on the legal aspect of the documents.

government records

Specifies that the documents originate from a government source.

formal papers

Emphasizes the formality of the documents.

certified documents

Highlights that the documents have been certified for authenticity.

validated records

Implies that the records have undergone validation.

public records

Indicates that the records are accessible to the public.

archival materials

Suggests the documents are part of an archive.

corporate documentation

Refers specifically to documents from a corporation.

policy documents

Refers specifically to documents containing official policies.

administrative documents

Highlights that the documents are related to administrative processes.

FAQs

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

You can use "official documents" to refer to records that hold legal or factual authority. For example, "The judge based the ruling on the "legal documents" presented by the prosecution."

What are some alternatives to saying "official documents"?

Depending on the context, you could use terms like "government records", "formal papers", or "validated records" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it redundant to say "official government documents"?

While not strictly incorrect, "official government documents" can be redundant since "official" often implies government origin. "Official documents" is usually sufficient unless you need to emphasize the source.

What's the difference between "official documents" and "unofficial documents"?

"Official documents" are authorized and verified records, whereas "unofficial documents" are not sanctioned and may lack accuracy or legal standing. The former carries more weight in legal and formal contexts.