tons of documents

USAGE SUMMARY

"tons of documents" is an appropriate and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a large or significant amount of documents. For example, "My lawyer asked me to bring tons of documents to our next meeting in order to get the paperwork in order."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Britain's public records office needed the space to store more than 400 tons of documents.

The New York Times

At the time of decolonisation, colonial officials destroyed and removed tons of documents from Kenya.

The Guardian - Opinion

"[We're facing] tons of documents and 10,000 unresolved cases," commissioner Kranarong Chantik said yesterday.

The Guardian

Tons of documents were seized by the Kurds in 1991, when they again rebelled against Mr. Hussein.

The New York Times

"When asked, counsel agreed that others in the Houston office had shredded tons of documents," the affidavit said.

The New York Times

Last year the Supreme Court overturned Arthur Andersen's conviction for obstructing the course of justice by shredding tons of documents relating to Enron.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Though the clandestine Amad program was halted in late 2003, many of its records came to light after Israeli Mossad agents broke into a nuclear weapons archive in Tehran and stole a half ton of documents related to building nuclear warheads.

The Washington Post

"I don't want to launch it with a ton of documents like LegalZoom, because this is a real niche market," she said.

TechCrunch

Former tenants include Britain's secret service, the famous hot line between America and the Soviet Union during the cold war and 400 tons of government documents.

The New York Times

"I guess we were so busy monitoring the everyday communications of every man, woman, and child in the nation that we didn't notice that a contractor working for us was downloading tons of classified documents," the agency spokesman said.

The New Yorker

It begins with an historical note about the war crimes trials and their documentary record, including the fate of the several tons of trial documents that were distributed in 1949.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tons of documents", consider your audience and the context. While widely accepted, it might be too informal for highly formal or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using overly casual quantifiers like "tons" repeatedly in formal reports. Vary your language with more precise terms like "significant quantity" or "extensive volume" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tons of documents" functions as a quantifier phrase, specifying a large quantity of documents. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tons of documents" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe a large quantity of documents. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and understood. While its usage spans various contexts, it is most prevalent in news and media. Writers should be mindful of their audience and the formality of the setting, opting for more precise or formal alternatives when necessary. Remember, context is key to effective communication!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large quantity of documents

Replaces the informal "tons" with a more formal descriptor of quantity.

a significant amount of documents

Emphasizes the importance of the volume of documents rather than just the size.

a mountain of documents

Uses a more vivid metaphor to describe the overwhelming quantity of documents.

a wealth of documents

Suggests that the documents are valuable and abundant.

an abundance of documents

Highlights the plentiful nature of the documents.

numerous documents

A more straightforward and formal way to express a large number of documents.

voluminous documents

Emphasizes the sheer size and scope of the document collection.

extensive documentation

Focuses on the comprehensiveness and detail of the documentation.

a plethora of documents

Uses a less common word to indicate a large and possibly excessive quantity.

a vast collection of documents

Highlights the scale of the collection of documents.

FAQs

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

You can use "tons of documents" to describe a large quantity of paperwork. For example, "The investigation required the team to review "tons of documents"".

What can I say instead of "tons of documents"?

You can use alternatives like "a large quantity of documents", "a significant amount of documents", or "a mountain of documents" depending on the context.

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

While "tons of documents" is widely understood, it may be too informal for certain formal or academic contexts. Consider using more precise or formal alternatives like "voluminous documents" or "extensive documentation" in those situations.

What's the difference between "tons of documents" and "a lot of documents"?

"Tons of documents" implies a greater quantity than "a lot of documents". While both are informal, "tons" suggests a more overwhelming or substantial amount.