Files: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to collections of digital documents or papers stored together in a physical or digital system.

• 'I need to organize my project files
• ' 'Please send me the files for the meeting
• '

Use when referring to individual written papers or digital files that contain official or important information.

• 'I need to sign several documents before the end of the day
• ' 'Can you send me that document via email?'

Use when referring to raw facts, figures, or information often used in research, analysis, or statistics.

• 'The data shows an increase in sales this quarter
• ' 'Please input the data into the spreadsheet
• '

Use when referring to officially documented information that is kept for future reference, such as historical, business, or legal records.

• 'The medical records need to be updated
• ' 'We need to keep accurate records of all transactions
• '

Use this term when referring to documents or information stored digitally or physically organized in an orderly manner.

• I need to organize my computer files by project.
• Can you send me the PDF files via email?

Use this to refer to a virtual or physical space for storing documents, often used in both computer organization and office settings.

• Save the document in the project folder.
• Each employee has a personal folder for important papers.

Appropriate when talking about a physical, ring-bound container used to organize and store papers, usually for school or work.

• I keep all my class notes in a binder.
• The project reports are in the blue binder on my desk.

Best used when referring to a collection of works or documents that represent someone's skills, achievements, or personal development, often used by professionals, students, or artists.

• My art portfolio includes sketches and paintings from the last five years.
• She brought her professional portfolio to the job interview.

Used when referring to multiple documents, records, or data stored together.

• She organized all her project files into folders on her computer
• The HR department keeps files on all employees

Used when talking about keeping something in a particular place for future use.

• You can store your off-season clothes in the attic
• They stored all the backup data on an external hard drive

Used when referring to the act of preserving data or documents to prevent loss.

• Remember to save your work frequently to avoid losing any progress
• She saved the important document on her desktop

Typically used when referring to a collection of historical records or documents that are preserved for long-term storage. Can also mean moving data to an archive for storage purposes.

• The library has an extensive archive of ancient manuscripts
• He decided to archive old emails to free up space in his inbox