undercover information

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undercover information" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to information that is obtained or shared in a secretive or covert manner, often related to investigations or intelligence work. Example: "The detective gathered undercover information to build a case against the suspect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The most popular word in the office is probably "leverage," because E.I.A. tends to use its undercover information to pressure governments and companies to change their behavior.

The New Yorker

According to a 16-count indictment handed down last year, Diaz had access to sensitive undercover information, which he revealed to a convicted felon.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The new photographs of the captured elephants in Hwange were obtained recently by a U.S. security firm that is orchestrating an undercover information-gathering operation about Zimbabwe's elephant export program.

Huffington Post

The rest, the report concluded, "were broken open due to the combination of well-deployed undercover agents, information from citizen or undercover informants and tips from foreign intelligence agencies".

The New York Times

Undercover Ostbüro informers managed repeatedly to collect important information about living conditions and the bleak reality of life under the East German Stalinist dictatorship, especially in the early 1950s.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

In "NCIS: Los Angeles," at 9, Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) goes undercover to obtain information about a former arms dealer and befriends a female source.

The New York Times - Arts

An over-reliance on a returning memory of one of Rachel's blackouts begins to grate, likewise when Rachel starts to visit Megan's therapist undercover to get information, it's a bit ham-fisted.

Independent

The result of Ms. Osiecki's undercover work, and information provided by other whistle-blowers, led to Amgen's agreement this week to pay $762 million to settle federal investigations regarding the marketing of some of its top-selling drugs.

The New York Times

They are a tight crew: Adrian Dunbar's gruff leader, Superintendent Ted Hastings; Vicky McClure's no-nonsense DC Kate Fleming (generally used as an undercover cop, winkling information out of whichever department is under investigation); and Martin Compston's cocky DS Steve Arnott, the eager new recruit who is never quite sure when to stop pushing.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In the episode, Michael and Dwight go undercover to seek information on a family-owned business competitor, and Michael has a crisis of conscience when they turn out to be very nice people.

Wikipedia

Journalists and activists – not actual spies but some investigative journalists and activists come close to spying (or actually are spying, depending on the perspective!) when working undercover to expose information that hasn't been made public.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "undercover information" when stressing that the information gathering involved individuals concealing their true identity or purpose. This distinguishes it from other forms of secret information, such as classified documents.

Common error

Avoid using "undercover information" when simply referring to any non-public information. Reserve it for situations where the information was specifically acquired through covert operations or secret identities. Using alternatives like "confidential data" or "private intelligence" is more appropriate for general cases of secrecy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undercover information" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "undercover" modifies the noun "information". This signifies that the information was obtained through clandestine or covert means, as supported by Ludwig examples. The Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "undercover information" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes intelligence gathered through covert or clandestine means. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in discussions related to law enforcement, intelligence, and security. While it's less common than more general terms like "secret information", it's most appropriate when emphasizing that the information was specifically obtained through concealed identities or covert operations. The primary contexts where this phrase is found are News & Media, Wiki and Science. It's important to avoid using it in place of general, non-public data. Related phrases include "secret intelligence" and "covert intelligence".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Secret intelligence

Replaces "undercover" with "secret", emphasizing the hidden nature of the information.

Covert intelligence

Synonymous replacement of "undercover" with "covert", stressing the secretive operation behind gathering the information.

Clandestine data

Uses "clandestine" to highlight the secretive and often illicit nature of the information gathering, also substitutes "information" for "data".

Confidential intelligence

Focuses on the sensitive and private nature of the intelligence.

Classified data

Emphasizes the official secrecy and restricted access to the information.

Secretly gathered intelligence

Adds the verb "gathered" to specify how the information was obtained.

Sub rosa intelligence

Uses the Latin term "sub rosa" which means "under the rose", indicating secrecy.

Hidden information

Highlights the concealed aspect of the information.

Unpublicized information

Focuses on the fact that the information is not publicly available.

Privately sourced intelligence

Emphasizes that information originated from private, non-public channels.

FAQs

How can I use "undercover information" in a sentence?

You can use "undercover information" to describe intelligence gathered through covert means. For example, "The detective used "undercover information" to solve the case".

What are some alternatives to "undercover information"?

Alternatives include "secret intelligence", "covert intelligence", or "clandestine data", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "undercover information" formal or informal?

The phrase "undercover information" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, its appropriateness depends on the overall tone of the writing and the audience.

What is the difference between "undercover information" and "classified information"?

"Undercover information" specifically refers to intelligence gathered through covert means, while "classified information" refers to data that has been officially designated as secret and restricted to authorized personnel.