a cursory view

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a cursory view" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a quick or superficial examination of something without going into detail. Example: "After taking a cursory view of the report, I realized that more in-depth analysis was needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I was only in China for a week so this a cursory view.

University of California, Berkeley

Throughout the production, Mr. Maliphant offers a cursory view of Rodin's way of giving static forms a sense of movement.

The New York Times - Arts

We decided to loop back for a second visit to the Sistine Chapel after completing a cursory view of the galleries that follow it.

The New York Times

If a sketch of how "the adversary culture" has developed in recent years has to cover too much ground in too few pages to offer more than a cursory view, a pair of individual case histories provides valuable new insights.

The New York Times - Books

"A glance at the map of Europe after 1648" is sufficient to counter the first objection, while "a cursory view across the landscape of the centuries since Westphalia" deals with the second.

The Guardian - Books

"A cursory view of resumes and skills listed in (LinkedIn's) profiles seem to overwhelmingly include intersections of Office and Adobe experts," he recently wrote.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Rating: three ravens This SyFy series mashes up GoT with Clash of the Titans and 300 after a cursory viewing of all three.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Norman Siegel, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said that a cursory viewing of the maps led to "aggression and overzealousness that has led to questionable street justice".

The New York Times - Tech

A cursory viewing was enough, the way that you could lie in bed with nothing but sea and sky outside the window, through that CinemaScope frame of rusting rails.

The Guardian

Even a cursory survey of scientific papers shows these benefits.

Harvard University

Ours is a 30,000-ft, cursory view of three texts: the Quran and the Old and New Testaments, respectively".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a cursory view" when you want to convey that an examination or assessment was brief and not in-depth. It's suitable for situations where a quick overview is sufficient or necessary due to time constraints.

Common error

Avoid using "a cursory view" when you actually conducted a thorough investigation. The phrase implies a lack of detail, so ensure it accurately reflects the scope of your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cursory view" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as the subject or object in a sentence, denoting a quick or superficial examination, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a cursory view" is a noun phrase used to describe a quick and superficial examination. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. While understandable in most contexts, it leans towards a neutral or formal register. It’s most frequently found in News & Media, Science and Academia sources, indicating its applicability across different writing styles. Remember to use this phrase when you specifically want to convey the lack of in-depth analysis and choose alternative phrases like "a brief overview" or "a quick glance" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A brief overview

Replaces "cursory" with "brief", emphasizing the shortness of the examination.

A quick glance

Substitutes "view" with "glance", indicating an even faster and less detailed look.

A superficial examination

Replaces "cursory" with "superficial", highlighting the lack of depth in the examination.

A passing look

Uses "passing look" to suggest a brief and casual observation.

A light survey

Employs "light survey", indicating a general and not very thorough investigation.

A preliminary assessment

Replaces "view" with "assessment", suggesting an initial evaluation.

A basic inspection

Uses "basic inspection" to indicate a simple and fundamental check.

A surface-level review

Highlights that the review is only at the surface and doesn't go deep.

A short perusal

Substitutes "view" with "perusal", suggesting a quick reading or scanning.

A thumbnail sketch

Emphasizes the brevity and lack of detail, comparing it to a very small drawing.

FAQs

How can I use "a cursory view" in a sentence?

You can use "a cursory view" to indicate a brief or superficial examination, as in, "After taking "a cursory view" of the data, we decided further analysis was needed."

What are some alternatives to "a cursory view"?

Alternatives include "a brief overview", "a quick glance", or "a superficial examination", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a cursory view" appropriate for formal writing?

"A cursory view" is generally acceptable, even in formal writing, when you need to accurately describe a brief examination. However, be mindful of the context and choose more precise language if greater detail is required.

What's the difference between "a cursory view" and "a detailed analysis"?

"A cursory view" implies a quick and superficial examination, while "a detailed analysis" suggests a thorough and in-depth investigation. They represent opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of the depth of scrutiny.