underlying document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underlying document" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a document that serves as the foundation or basis for something else. You can use it when referring to a document that is essential to understanding a topic or supporting a claim. Example: The contract that was signed between the two parties is the underlying document in this dispute.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Sometimes the underlying document supports the original point I was investigating; sometimes it doesn't.

Forbes

Both of these approaches employ Wikipedia to aid searchers construct/reformulate queries that are addressed to an underlying document repository.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

2.3.5 lies in the fact that the external corpus is completely decoupled from the underlying document index.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The retrieval effectiveness of the underlying document search component of an expert search engine can have an important impact on the effectiveness of the generated expert search results.

Information Processing & Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It was Jacques Baute, a veteran I.A.E.A. inspector, who discovered that the underlying documents were fraudulent.

The New York Times - Magazine

To get acceptable ID, many people would be forced to pay fees for underlying documents, such as birth certificates.

The New York Times

And in three of those four instances, the underlying documents proved incorrect.

The New York Times

Rather, they take time to study their returns and all the underlying documents, especially those relating to mutual fund holdings and other investments, to see whether they should fine-tune their financial plans.

The New York Times

Separately, the C.I.A. is now in the process of turning over to Congress the underlying documents that were used by analysts to prepare the national estimate, just as lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are preparing for their own reviews of the prewar intelligence.

The New York Times

If the withholding of details of the vice president's task force on energy, the classification of underlying documents that shaped the 9/11 commission's report, and the endangering of a C.I.A. officer are not evidence enough of the administration's wholesale politicizing of valuable information, I don't know what is. Louis Flores Astoria, Queens, July 12 , 2005

The New York Times

He notes that "from study of the underlying documents, it is abundantly clear that the original thinking, the initiatives, notably the opening to China and the détente with Russia, came from the unceasingly restless mind of Richard Nixon, and not from Henry Kissinger".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to legal or financial contexts, use "underlying document" to denote the document that establishes the basis for a transaction or agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "underlying document" when you are referring to a summary or an interpretation of the original source. The "underlying document" is the source itself, not a derived work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underlying document" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific document that serves as the foundation or basis for something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "underlying document" is a noun phrase used to refer to a foundational or source document relevant to a specific context. While not extremely frequent, Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and finds examples in news media, science, and business contexts. When writing, remember that the "underlying document" is the original source itself, not a summary or interpretation. Consider alternatives such as "source document" or "foundational document" for greater clarity or variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

source document

Focuses on the document as the origin of information.

original document

Emphasizes the document's status as the first or initial version.

base document

Highlights the document as the foundation for further work.

foundational document

Stresses the document's fundamental importance.

supporting document

Indicates the document provides evidence or justification.

primary document

Highlights the document's main or most important role.

root document

Implies the document is the origin from which others are derived.

preceding document

Focuses on the document's chronological position.

initial document

Stresses that the document is the first in a series.

preliminary document

Indicates the document is a draft or early version.

FAQs

How to use "underlying document" in a sentence?

You can use "underlying document" to refer to the primary source of information or the foundational document upon which an analysis is based. For example: "The court reviewed the "underlying document" to determine the validity of the claim."

What is the difference between "underlying document" and "source document"?

"Underlying document" often implies a document that is not immediately visible but is essential for understanding a situation, whereas "source document" simply identifies the origin of information. While they can be interchangeable, the former has a nuance of being fundamental but potentially hidden.

Which is correct, "underlying document" or "overlying document"?

"Underlying document" is the correct and commonly used phrase to refer to a foundational or original document. "Overlying document" is not a standard term in this context.

What can I say instead of "underlying document"?

You can use alternatives like "source document", "original document", or "foundational document" depending on the specific context.