a good glance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a good glance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a brief look or observation that is considered positive or favorable. Example: "After taking a good glance at the report, I realized we were on the right track."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Without specific words increasing in frequency as contextual guides, it is difficult to obtain a good glance at the nature of the text.

EPJ Data Science

Give it a good glance, folks — this is the first time we've really seen the hardware shown in decent lighting.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

What goes unsaid in the passage is that the attack comes from Kryptonian General Zod, who will be played by Michael Shannon, but overall, it provides a good first glance at the inner struggle that the hero will have to deal with and put aside for the better of his adopted planet.

Huffington Post

Unfortunately, Room 543 is at the far end of the Telemetry corridor, and to get to it one must pass by rooms with partly opened doors into which it's not a good idea to glance — mostly elderly patients seem to be here, diminutive in their beds, connected to humming machines.

The New Yorker

ROAD 79 in Dhaka's diplomatic zone is a good place for a glance at the state of Bangladesh's democracy.

The Economist

The figure does not surprise many of us who cycle through our major towns and cities and get a good view while we glance at those driving around us.

The Guardian - Opinion

That may sound like a good thing at first glance.

TechCrunch

This is a good demonstration how Mutation@A Glance could help us interpret mutation effects at the molecular level.

DNA Research

At first glance, a good correlation (i.e. similar type and extent of regulation) between microarray and pre-existing data was observed.

BMC Genomics

Yet despite the vastly greater supply, employers still reward them well for the time and money they invest .Education at a Glance" is a good guide for governments wanting to copy other countries' homework.

The Economist

This is probably a good commercial move, because a glance around the audience reveals that everyone is still wearing those foil skirts from, like, three seasons ago, so clearly there's a market for a fancy skirt.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a good glance" when you want to convey that a brief look is sufficient to understand or appreciate something. For instance, "A good glance at the data revealed a positive trend."

Common error

While "a good glance" is acceptable, it might sound too casual for formal writing. Opt for phrases like "a thorough review" or "a detailed examination" in professional documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a good glance" functions as a noun phrase, where 'good' modifies the noun 'glance'. The phrase describes a brief visual assessment or look, and according to Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a good glance" refers to a brief but adequate look or observation. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it leans toward informal contexts, so consider the audience and purpose of your writing. Alternative expressions such as "a quick look" or "a brief inspection" can be used for variety or to achieve a more formal tone, where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a good look

Substitutes 'glance' with 'look', which is a general term for directing your eyes.

a good glimpse

Uses 'glimpse' instead of 'glance', indicating a brief, often incomplete, view.

a decent glance

Replaces 'good' with 'decent', suggesting an adequate rather than exceptional look.

a quick look

Emphasizes the speed of the glance, using 'quick' instead of 'good'.

a good peek

Substitutes 'glance' with 'peek', implying a quick, furtive look.

a good view

Replaces 'glance' with 'view', suggesting a more comprehensive look or perspective.

a brief examination

Replaces the idiom with a more formal term, 'examination'.

a cursory inspection

Substitutes 'glance' with 'inspection' which denotes a superficial look.

a casual observation

Uses 'observation' to suggest a passive and relaxed act of looking.

a preliminary assessment

Replaces the idiom with a more formal term, 'assessment', used often in business context.

FAQs

What does "a good glance" mean?

The phrase "a good glance" means a quick look or brief observation that is sufficient to understand something or form an initial impression.

What can I say instead of "a good glance"?

You can use alternatives like "a quick look", "a brief overview", or "a cursory inspection" depending on the context.

How can I use "a good glance" in a sentence?

You can use "a good glance" in sentences such as, "A good glance at the report showed positive results" or "He took a good glance around the room before speaking".

Is "a good glance" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a good glance" might be considered too informal for certain professional contexts. Consider using alternatives like "a thorough review" or "a detailed examination" for a more formal tone.