pdf

USAGE SUMMARY

"pdf" is a correct and usable word in written English that refers to a Portable Document Format (PDF).
You can use it when referring to a type of computer file. For example: "This document is available as a pdf file on our website."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Full instructions are on the pdf – download it here You will need Scissors Card Glue Elastic/string Instructions Stick your printed page on to your card.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Furthermore, the United Nations office on drugs and crime recently released an Implementation guide and evaluative framework (pdf) for Article 11 of the UN convention against corruption.

The Guardian

The WHO's essential medicines committee has rejected an application from Novartis to have the expensive licensed drug Lucentis added to the list of drugs all countries should stock (PDF).

The Guardian

The most visible is Hanoi's transportation sector, which shifted dramatically (pdf) from bicycle to motorbike and now to car over the last twenty years.

The Guardian

In a letter sent to more than 1,000 Islamic leaders (pdf), Pickles stressed that he was proud of the way Muslims in Britain had responded to the Paris terror attacks, but added that there was "more work to do" in rooting out extremists and preventing young people being radicalised.

The Guardian

4. Can't people just read the Cabinet Manual (PDF), which is pretty clear on the rules? 5. Ed, speaking in 2010 makes it clear too, doesn't he? 6. Can we not all just agree, then, that a government is formed when a majority in the Commons passes a vote of confidence? 7. The SNP probably wouldn't dare to vote down a Labour Queen's Speech and therefore isn't Ed Miliband right to call their bluff?

The Guardian - Opinion

The evidence that confirms the neglect of adolescent girls in policy and development practice is clear, considerable, and pretty damning (pdf).

The Guardian

The government's mid-year review of the economy (pdf) in December states gleefully that "a dramatic change seems to have happened to rural labour markets since 2012 because wage growth has plunged.

The Guardian

For a copy of the report, please go to Fatal Journeys: Tracking Lives Lost During Migration (pdf).

The Guardian

Huge debt relief to Burma was behind much of the fall in aid to LDCs, the OECD said in its annual report (pdf).

The Guardian

In December, Gordon Brown, the former UK prime minister, launched a campaign against child labour (pdf) in an effort to reach the millennium development goal of universal primary education by 2015, which Brown's education for all initiative supports.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pdf", ensure the context makes it clear you are referring to a file format. Providing a link to download a "pdf" is a common and helpful practice.

Common error

Avoid using "pdf" when you actually mean a different document format like DOCX or TXT. Always verify the file type before referencing it as a "pdf".

Linguistic Context

The acronym "pdf" functions as a noun or an adjective to describe a file in Portable Document Format. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a standard for electronic documents. The examples illustrate its use in contexts where documents are available for download or reference.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "pdf", short for Portable Document Format, is a ubiquitous acronym used to refer to a specific type of digital document. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to identify file format, ensuring consistent presentation across different devices and operating systems. It's grammatically correct and very commonly used, especially in news and media contexts. When using "pdf", ensure that the context clearly indicates a file in Portable Document Format is being referenced. Use phrases such as “"pdf file"” or “"pdf document"” for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Portable document format

Spells out the acronym, providing the full name of the file format.

PDF file

Explicitly states that "pdf" refers to a file.

PDF document

Specifies that "pdf" is a type of document.

Adobe Acrobat document

Refers to the document type associated with Adobe Acrobat software.

Digital document

A broader term that encompasses "pdf" as one form of digital document.

Electronic document

Similar to digital document, indicating the document is in electronic format.

Scanned document

Implies a "pdf" created from a scanned physical document.

Convert to PDF

Describes the action of changing a file to the "pdf" format.

Save as PDF

Describes the action of saving a file in "pdf" format.

Export to PDF

Describes the action of exporting data or a file to "pdf" format.

FAQs

How to use "pdf" in a sentence?

You can use "pdf" to refer to a file in Portable Document Format, for example: "The report is available as a "pdf file"" or "Please "download the pdf" version of the manual".

What does "pdf" stand for?

"Pdf" stands for Portable Document Format, a file format developed by Adobe to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems.

Which is correct, "pdf file" or "pdf format"?

"Pdf file" is generally used to describe the document itself, whereas "pdf format" refers to the way the data is structured within the file.

What can I say instead of "pdf"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "portable document format" when you want to be more formal or explicit about the file type. When describing the actions performed on files you can use the expressions "convert to pdf", "save as pdf".