the document was circulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the document was circulated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the distribution or sharing of a document among a group of people. Example: "After the meeting, the document was circulated to all participants for their review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The document was circulated by Ed Markey, the Democratic head of the House sub-committee on energy and the environment.

The Guardian

The document was circulated via e-mail and was signed by thousands of Chinese, though Mr. Liu remained largely unknown within the country, in part because of government censorship.

The New York Times

A preliminary draft of the document was circulated to several additional scientific experts and IPCS contact points for review.

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

Before the consensus meeting on 20 and 21 June 2011 in Luxembourg, the document was circulated for a second consultation, which took place from 11 to 27 May 2011, and amended considering the comments received.

European Journal of Human Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The document was circulating on social media on Thursday.

Vice

It is not even a personal testament – the document is circulated widely within the party and produced over several months and numerous drafts.

The Guardian

The documents were circulated as British officials conceded that the prime minister may fail in his original demand to cement the reforms in a change to the EU treaty and EU diplomats said a "war room of ­lawyers" had been brought in to assist all 28 national leaders.

The Guardian

Though not addressed to any one person specifically, the documents were circulated at the top of the Russian government, outlining a game plan to damage Hillary Clinton's credibility and reputation and skew US voters to elect a president who would go easy on Russia.

Vice

As our aim was to produce guidance that could be adapted to the needs of different EU countries, the draft document was circulated through EU experts and patient groups and reviewed by representatives of EU countries in the ECDC Advisory Forum.

BioMed Research International

Following this process the final document was circulated for written approval by all members of the European Network.

BMC Psychiatry

Following this process the final document was circulated for written approval by all members of the European Network and further changes made on the basis of written comments and text changes.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the document was circulated" when you want to emphasize the act of distributing a document among a specific group of people for their review or action.

Common error

Avoid using "the document was circulated" in very informal settings. Simpler phrases like "the document was shared" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the document was circulated" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the document was the recipient of the action of being circulated. As Ludwig AI confirms, the structure is grammatically correct and widely accepted in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the document was circulated" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe the distribution of a document. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific writing, carrying a neutral to slightly formal tone. While acceptable in many contexts, consider more informal alternatives like "the document was shared" in casual settings. Remember to use this phrase to emphasize the action of distributing a document, usually implying a process of review or action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the document was distributed

Replaces "circulated" with a more direct synonym, "distributed".

the document was shared

Uses "shared" to emphasize the collaborative aspect of distributing the document.

the document was disseminated

Employs a more formal synonym, "disseminated", suitable for official contexts.

the document was made available

Highlights the accessibility of the document.

the document was passed around

Similar to "went around" but slightly more descriptive.

the document saw circulation

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the document as the subject.

the document went around

Offers a more informal, conversational alternative.

the document was released

Similar to "issued" but can also imply making the document public.

the document was issued

Focuses on the act of formally releasing the document.

the document was forwarded

Specifies the means of circulation, suggesting electronic transmission.

FAQs

What does "the document was circulated" mean?

It means a document was distributed or shared among a group of people, often for review, feedback, or action.

What can I say instead of "the document was circulated"?

You can use alternatives like "the document was distributed", "the document was shared", or "the document was disseminated" depending on the context.

Is "the document was circulated" formal or informal?

It's generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

How do I use "the document was circulated" in a sentence?

Example: "After the meeting, "the document was circulated" to all team members for their comments."