raft of documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'raft of documents' is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to express the idea of a large amount of documents, for example: "The lawyer had to sort through a raft of documents to build her case".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

That epiphany, backed up by his research into Mr. Cook's trading strategy, which included claims of no-interest loans from a Jordanian bank, led Mr. Schlobohm to take a raft of documents to the authorities.

The New York Times

Also, Chilcot may be about to publish a whole raft of documents – after all, he did take up my suggestion of seeing Blair early on – but the signs are not good.

The Guardian - Opinion

Among a raft of documents from the Army investigation, obtained by The New York Times, is a brief statement by Mr. Israel in which he denies any knowledge of the abuses.

The New York Times

A raft of documents obtained under FOIA chronicle exchanges between department officials and members of the National Park System Advisory Board before their en masse resignation earlier this year.

The Washington Post

A separate raft of documents, released this month through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council, shows that the White House blocked Pruitt in November from starting the red team/blue team exercise.

The Washington Post

Now that we have been hit with a raft of documents from both special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York, Garrett Graff believes that Mueller's investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election is nearing the worst-case scenario.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The questionnaire, seen by The Wall Street Journal, asks companies to provide rafts of documents, ranging from emails, internal memos to "drafts of all draft agreements" with Google, dating back to 2007.

Forbes

The release was postponed for two months because investigators received a raft of new documents, organizers have said.

The New York Times

In his three days of testimony, prosecutors have offered a raft of Adelphia documents that appear to mesh with Mr. Brown's claims.

The New York Times

There are diagnoses to decipher, housing issues to consider, health aides to vet and a raft of legal documents to complete.

The New York Times - Health

Judge Crotty's decision means the case now moves into discovery, in which the plaintiffs' lawyers will demand a raft of corporate documents and depositions from Mr. Blankfein and the two other Goldman executives named as defendants — the president, Gary D. Cohn, and the chief financial officer, David A. Viniar.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "raft of documents", ensure that the context makes it clear what the documents pertain to, for example: "a raft of legal documents".

Common error

Avoid using "raft of documents" if the number of documents is relatively small or easily manageable. This phrase implies a significant quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "raft of documents" functions as a noun phrase acting as an object or subject complement. It signifies a substantial amount of documents, used to emphasize volume, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "raft of documents" is a grammatically correct and neutrally registered expression used to convey a large quantity of documents. As confirmed by Ludwig, it commonly appears in news and media and sometimes in scientific contexts, serving the purpose of emphasizing the sheer volume of paperwork. While alternatives like "large quantity of documents" exist, "raft of documents" offers a concise and evocative way to describe an abundance of written material. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants its use and that the scope of documents is genuinely substantial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large quantity of documents

Replaces "raft" with a more literal description of the quantity.

extensive collection of documents

Emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the document set.

substantial number of documents

Uses "substantial" to highlight the significance of the quantity.

mountain of paperwork

Offers a more figurative and potentially overwhelming sense of the volume.

plethora of documents

Employs a more formal and slightly archaic term for abundance.

considerable volume of documents

Highlights the amount of space the documents occupy, real or figurative.

wide array of documents

Focuses on the variety and diversity within the document set.

huge pile of documents

A more casual and less formal alternative, emphasizing the physical accumulation.

mass of documents

Conveys a sense of undifferentiated bulk.

significant body of documents

Implies a formal and important collection of writings or records.

FAQs

How can I use "raft of documents" in a sentence?

You can use "raft of documents" to describe a large number of documents, such as "The investigation produced a "raft of documents" that needed to be reviewed carefully."

What are some alternatives to saying "raft of documents"?

Alternatives include "large quantity of documents", "extensive collection of documents", or "substantial number of documents", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "raft of documents" in formal writing?

Yes, "raft of documents" is generally appropriate for formal writing, especially when conveying the idea of a significant quantity of materials. However, for particularly formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "significant body of documents".

What does "raft" mean in the phrase "raft of documents"?

In this context, "raft" is used figuratively to mean a large number or collection, similar to how one might speak of a raft of logs floating on water. It emphasizes the abundance and potential unwieldiness of the "large quantity of documents".