unwieldy document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unwieldy document" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a document that is difficult to handle, manage, or use due to its size, complexity, or format. Example: "The report was so lengthy and detailed that it became an unwieldy document for the team to navigate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The long, unwieldy document seeks to ban criticism of religion, calls for slave reparations and attacks Israel as racist.

The New York Times

It has been released every year since 1977, as required by the City Charter, but the mayor, who has an obsession of sorts with data and accountability, has compressed it significantly, turning an otherwise unwieldy document (it used to be as thick as an encyclopedia) into a manageable one (this year's has 220 pages).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

While a business plan has somewhat of an image problem in certain circles, wedded as it is in many people's minds to the image of large, unwieldy and impractical documents, modern business planning is flexible, agile and concise, and more about goal setting than bound physical documents.

TechCrunch

With the agreement running more than 200 pages — including what negotiators estimate are a couple of thousand brackets denoting points of differences — diplomats and negotiators fear that the document is too unwieldy to garner a consensus in the coming months.

The New York Times - Science

The latest onslaught of documents was particularly unwieldy — each computerized page was a separate file, making it cumbersome to search or read.

The New York Times

But when a document becomes too cluttered and unwieldy from all the various formats, there's a quick and easy way to strip the styles from the text so you can start over.

The New York Times - Tech

This un-forbidden city is currently playing host to the extremely ambitious, yet awkwardly titled, Shenzhen and Hong Kong Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture, which attempts to document the pace of change in this unwieldy new metropolis.

The Guardian - Arts

In its first incarnation, at midcentury, it was the sole, unwieldy province of television studios and was used strictly to document.

The New York Times - Arts

If you cannot use the online process, or you need the greatest anonymity possible, or you find it is simply unwieldy and difficult given the type or bulk of documentation that you have, Wikileaks enables you to post the documents and related information.

WikiHow

The documents sent to the newspaper stretched back decades and were unwieldy.

Los Angeles Times

Over the last two years, in an attempt to document the phenomenon, this columnist has kept a sporadic list of the most unwieldy cargo spotted aboard subway cars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unwieldy document", consider specifying why it's unwieldy: is it the length, complexity, or format that makes it difficult to handle? This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "unwieldy document" as a generic descriptor for anything difficult. Instead, reserve it for documents that are genuinely challenging to manage due to their physical or organizational characteristics. Consider alternatives for abstract difficulties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unwieldy document" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unwieldy" modifies the noun "document". It typically describes a document that is difficult to handle or manage due to its size, complexity, or other characteristics. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unwieldy document" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a document that is difficult to handle or manage. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it appears with relative infrequency and is most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it's helpful to clarify what makes the document unwieldy – is it the length, complexity, or format? Alternatives such as "cumbersome document" or "bulky document" can also be considered depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cumbersome document

Replaces "unwieldy" with "cumbersome", emphasizing the burdensome nature of the document.

bulky document

Replaces "unwieldy" with "bulky", highlighting the large size and physical difficulty of handling the document.

unmanageable document

Replaces "unwieldy" with "unmanageable", focusing on the difficulty in controlling or organizing the document.

impractical document

Emphasizes the lack of practicality in using the document due to its complexity or size.

ponderous document

Suggests the document is heavy and difficult to deal with, both literally and figuratively.

clumsy document

Highlights the awkward and inefficient nature of the document.

awkward document

Similar to "clumsy", but focuses more on the lack of elegance or ease of use.

complex and difficult document

Expands on "unwieldy" by explicitly stating the document's complexity and difficulty.

massive and convoluted document

Describes the document as both large and complicated.

uncontrollable document

Focuses on the inability to effectively control or manipulate the document.

FAQs

How can I use "unwieldy document" in a sentence?

You can use "unwieldy document" to describe a document that is difficult to handle or manage due to its size, complexity, or format. For example, "The contract was so lengthy and detailed that it became an unwieldy document for the team to navigate".

What are some alternatives to "unwieldy document"?

Alternatives include "cumbersome document", "bulky document", or "unmanageable document", depending on the specific reason the document is difficult to handle.

Is "unwieldy document" formal or informal?

"Unwieldy document" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, consider more precise language that specifies the cause of the difficulty.

What makes a document "unwieldy"?

A document can be considered "unwieldy" if it's too long, complex, poorly organized, or in a format that's difficult to navigate. These factors make it challenging to use effectively.