weak document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weak document" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a document that lacks strength, clarity, or effectiveness, often in a professional or academic context. Example: "The report was deemed a weak document due to its lack of supporting evidence and unclear arguments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Experts argue that if the treaty ends without agreement or with a weak document, it will be a big setback for Mr. Obama's goals.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Now it has come up with a draft of its own, a much weaker document.

BBC

"We should not be afraid to propose new ideas, even if they might destabilize pre-existing balances of power that prevail over the weakest," the document states.

The New York Times

"His biggest concern was looking weak," the British document says, describing Mr. Bush.

The New York Times

Coming after it emerged that a staffer had lost £3m on the foreign exchange market by betting mistakenly on a weak euro, the documents show that the group's financial department has faced a series of problems, and that its board is troubled by the lack of controls and lapses that allowed one person to lose so much money.

The Guardian

While previous literature documents weak effects of unionization on payout policy on average, we find that this average relationship hides significant heterogeneous effects of unionization on payouts across firms that depend on firm profitability.

Journal of Corporate Finance

In some evaluations that have documented weak supervision in national CHW programmes, the CHWs do not even know who their supervisors are or what they can expect from them [ 37].

Human Resources for Health

The association between the number of total documents and that of citable documents is weak, probably due to inherent properties of the indicator, which is no longer "complete" in the final years of the period; that is, it is expected that these documents will continue to be cited for some years beyond our study period.

BMC Public Health

(2010) concentrate on Japan and document only weak evidence of turnover-induced (monthly) return patterns.

Business Research

The document "seems weak on addressing why we should single out genome editing relative to other medicines" that are potentially dangerous, he wrote in an email.

Science Magazine

However, this does not mean that we have not noticed the document's weak points.

EU Parlament

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a document as "weak", be specific about why it's weak. Detail the exact shortcomings such as a lack of evidence, poor structure, or unclear arguments.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling a document as "weak" without providing concrete examples of its deficiencies. This lacks credibility and provides no opportunity for improvement. Instead, pinpoint exactly what aspects are lacking or poorly executed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak document" functions as a descriptive phrase, where the adjective "weak" modifies the noun "document". It describes a quality or characteristic of the document, indicating that it lacks strength or effectiveness. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weak document" is used to describe a document lacking strength or effectiveness. According to Ludwig AI, the usage is correct. It's grammatically sound, functioning as an adjective-noun phrase. The phrase serves to criticize the document, highlighting its deficiencies. While its formality is neutral, it's commonly found in news, science, and formal business contexts. To improve clarity in writing, specify the weaknesses of the document rather than simply labeling it as "weak". Alternatives like "flimsy document", "inadequate document", or "poorly supported document" offer more nuanced criticism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flimsy document

Emphasizes the lack of substance or solidity in the document.

inadequate document

Highlights that the document does not meet the required standards or needs.

poorly supported document

Focuses on the lack of evidence or justification within the document.

badly constructed document

Emphasizes flaws in the organization and presentation of the document.

unconvincing document

Highlights the document's failure to persuade or influence the reader.

tenuous document

Suggests that the document's arguments or claims are fragile and easily refuted.

deficient document

Indicates that the document is missing essential components or information.

watered-down document

Implies that the document has been diluted or made less forceful.

underdeveloped document

Suggests the document is incomplete and lacks sufficient detail or elaboration.

deficient documentation

Focuses on the lack of necessary or expected documentation.

FAQs

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

You can use "weak document" to describe a document that lacks persuasiveness or strength. For instance, "The lawyer presented a "weak document", failing to convince the judge of his client's innocence".

What are some alternatives to "weak document"?

Alternatives include "flimsy document", "inadequate document", or "poorly supported document". The best choice depends on the specific aspect of the document you want to criticize.

Is it always negative to describe a document as "weak"?

Yes, describing a document as "weak" is almost always negative. It suggests that the document is unconvincing, lacks supporting evidence, or is otherwise deficient. If you need to avoid the word "weak" and want to use a more neutral tone, consider phrasing like "the evidence is not robust" or "the argument needs further support".

What makes a document "weak"?

A document can be considered "weak" for various reasons, including a lack of credible evidence, logical fallacies, unclear arguments, or poor organization. Often it is due to missing key pieces of information and failing to support claims with evidence.