pivotal document

USAGE SUMMARY

"pivotal document" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a document that is of great importance and has a major impact on a situation. For example, "The Emancipation Proclamation is a pivotal document in the history of civil rights in the United States."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"His letter or protest is a pivotal document … as well as a powerful and poignant one," says Motion.

The Guardian - Books

A1 Bolton Clashes With U.N. John R. Bolton, the American ambassador to the United Nations, came under fire and fired back over hundreds of changes he is seeking to a pivotal document on aid for the developing world and change at the United Nations.

The New York Times

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 9 - Diplomats working on a pivotal document on the management overhaul of the United Nations and updated approaches to terrorism, development and human rights have locked horns just days before it is to be presented to more than 170 world leaders for their endorsement.

The New York Times

A potentially pivotal document in the legal fight between Uber and Waymo, the self-driving car company that was originally part of Google, has been released.

TechCrunch

Importantly, this study's findings were later reified by events in September 2014, when the UN General Assembly endorsed the Open Working Group's Outcome Document as the pivotal document upon which Member States were to engage in post-2015 negotinthens in the year ahead.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

During the thalidomide investigation, the Sunday Times received pivotal Distillers documents from a whistleblower called Dr Montague Phillips, but it was journalistic work that set them in the proper context.

The Guardian

The two pivotal trials documented a strong influence of the applied lamp sources on PDT efficacy.

British Journal of Dermatology

The information gathered through this surveillance was pivotal in documenting the relatively limited scope of the outbreak-associated anthrax cases, which in turn confirmed that exposures sufficient to cause disease were limited to persons with occupational exposure to mail processed by one distribution center.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Most such studies will likely make minor contributions to our understanding, but others may document pivotal findings.

Critical Care

Given that most institutional structures, especially educational settings, do not use a participatory model, it is critical to document pivotal moments that create spaces for increased participation and stakeholder control.

American Journal of Community Psychology

Mr. Dance is especially drawn to images documenting pivotal moments.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pivotal document", ensure the context clearly establishes the document's significance and impact. Avoid overuse to maintain the phrase's impact.

Common error

Avoid describing a document as a "pivotal document" if its influence is limited to a small or insignificant sphere. Ensure the document genuinely holds widespread importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pivotal document" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "pivotal" modifies the noun "document". It identifies a specific kind of document characterized by its critical importance. Ludwig confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pivotal document" refers to a document of critical importance, marking a significant turning point. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While relatively rare in overall usage, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Alternatives include "key document" and "crucial document". When employing this phrase, it's essential to ensure that the described document truly holds substantial influence and that its significance is clearly evident within the given context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

key document

Replaces "pivotal" with a synonym emphasizing importance.

crucial document

Replaces "pivotal" with a synonym suggesting decisiveness.

significant document

Replaces "pivotal" with a broader term for importance.

essential document

Replaces "pivotal" highlighting the necessity of the document.

vital document

Replaces "pivotal" with a synonym stressing importance for survival or success.

important paper

Substitutes "document" with "paper", maintaining the emphasis on significance.

influential paper

Highlights the document's power to affect something.

cornerstone document

Uses a metaphor to emphasize the document's foundational role.

groundbreaking document

Emphasizes the innovative or revolutionary nature of the document.

decisive document

Replaces pivotal highlighting document's ability to determine the outcome.

FAQs

How to use "pivotal document" in a sentence?

Use "pivotal document" to describe a record that plays a key, often transformative, role in a situation. For example, "The peace treaty was a "pivotal document" in ending the war".

What can I say instead of "pivotal document"?

You can use alternatives like "key document", "crucial document", or "significant document" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes a document "pivotal"?

A document is considered "pivotal" if it significantly influences events, decisions, or outcomes. It marks a turning point or serves as a foundation for future developments.

In what contexts is the term "pivotal document" typically used?

The term "pivotal document" is often used in historical, legal, and business contexts to describe records that have had a substantial impact on their respective fields.