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to document = provide supporting documents?

English translation: to document

08:41 Jun 30, 2009
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Accounting
English term or phrase: to document = provide supporting documents?
can "document" be used as a verb in the meaning "provide supporting documents / documentary proof for", such as in
* all expenses must be documented
?

Google shows a wide international usage and next to nothing in the UK.

Usage notes and US vs. UK insights will be much appreciated.
TIA
danya
Local time: 06:47
Selected answer:to document
Explanation:
Yes, that is exactly what it means. In the UK one sees 'to document' used, but better would be something like you suggest "documentary proof"or "documentary evidence must be provided".
Selected response from:

Willem Dubelaar
Kuwait
Local time: 06:47
Grading comment
thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2supported by a receipt
Rebecca Davis
4 +2Yes
Jack Doughty
4 +2not the same
Lingua.Franca
5to document
Willem Dubelaar
5to document
RoxanaTrad (X)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
supported by a receipt


Explanation:
This is how the idea is often conveyed when filing expense claims in the UK. "documented" is US usage.

Rebecca Davis
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Willem Dubelaar: And I agree with Rebecca too.
3 mins
agree  d_vachliot (X)
2 hrs
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
to document


Explanation:
Yes, that is exactly what it means. In the UK one sees 'to document' used, but better would be something like you suggest "documentary proof"or "documentary evidence must be provided".

Willem Dubelaar
Kuwait
Local time: 06:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thank you!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Yes


Explanation:
And as a UK English speaker, it seems perfectly OK to me.

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:47
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa: Yes, to provide or submit evidence.
2 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Henry Schroeder: yes, there are receipts, bills, etc. that prove the expenses were really incurred
1 hr
  -> Yes, and a KudoZ answer providing lots of relevant links could be called "well documented". I know this is a US-based site, but I wouldn't think many people in the UK would fail to understand that.
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
not the same


Explanation:
To document (as a verb) is to record in written, photographic or other form (Oxford - UK).

To provide supporting documents is to hand over to someone already existing documentation.

You can provide documentation, too. Documentation is "the documents required in the provision of information or evidence" (Oxford)

This applies both to the UK and the USA.

Lingua.Franca
Spain
Local time: 05:47
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Phong Le
3 hrs
agree  Lirka
5 hrs
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
to document


Explanation:
verb
1 document
support or supply with references; "Can you document your claims?"


    Reference: http://www.wordreference.com/definition/document
RoxanaTrad (X)
Romania
Local time: 06:47
Native speaker of: Native in RomanianRomanian
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