a quick skim of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a quick skim of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a cursory overview of a topic. For example, "I took a quick skim of the manual before deciding on the best course of action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

(By the way, I start my day, every day, with a quick skim of the Times followed by Thoma's blog Economist's View, which is the best place by far to keep up with the latest in economic discourse).

The New York Times

But a quick skim of the past would perhaps embolden them; for Game 5, though always set in Miami, has been magical for the Knicks the past two seasons.

The New York Times - Sports

However, gross disparities continue to dominate the field (I encourage you to take a quick skim of the pie charts on VIDA's website that show The Count at different journals).

The Guardian - Opinion

It's said that you have seven seconds to make a first impression — and the same goes for your house: 90% of buyers start their search online and make a decision about whether to come see your house based on a quick skim of your listing photos.

Forbes

A quick skim of the political landscape back then showed we would be facing a steep slope.

Huffington Post

The seeds are extremely potent and a quick skim of internet drug forums brings up a rake of terrifying bad trip accounts.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

These graphs and charts might get a glance on a PowerPoint display or a quick skim on a printed sheet, but they rarely produce the kind of results that justify the labor and intensity that's put into creating them.

HuffPost

But a quick skimming of Philip Greene's new book, "To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion," reveals exactly how much the man enjoyed his cups.

The New York Times

Do a quick skim through to gauge the feel of the overall test.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Give any of these groups' posts a quick skim and you'll probably find yourself drafting novel-length rebuttals to any of them.

Columbia University

All Facebook would need to do is show a list of links with this info, just like it does when you post websites to the news feed, and people could get the pulse of the planet in a quick skim.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a quick skim of", ensure the context makes it clear that a detailed analysis was not performed. It implies a general understanding rather than an in-depth comprehension.

Common error

Avoid making critical decisions or drawing firm conclusions based solely on "a quick skim of" information. Always indicate if further investigation is necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quick skim of" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a cursory or superficial examination of something. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

12.5%

Less common in

Science

12.5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a quick skim of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a brief, superficial examination. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples. While "a quick skim of" is generally acceptable in various contexts, more formal alternatives like "a brief overview" might be preferred in professional or academic settings. Remember that using this phrase implies a general understanding, not a detailed analysis. The contexts in which this phrase is used more frequently are: News & Media and Academia. This phrase is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief overview of

Replaces "skim" with "overview", suggesting a summary rather than a superficial reading.

a cursory glance at

Substitutes "skim" with "glance", implying an even briefer look.

a rapid review of

Uses "review" instead of "skim", emphasizing a swift examination.

a swift perusal of

Replaces "quick skim" with "swift perusal", offering a more formal tone.

a light scan of

Replaces "skim" with "scan", implying a systematic yet brief review.

a fleeting look at

Emphasizes the brevity of the observation using "fleeting".

a hasty examination of

Substitutes "quick skim" with "hasty examination", suggesting a less careful assessment.

a superficial reading of

Highlights the lack of depth in the reading with "superficial".

a fast check of

Uses "check" instead of "skim", simplifying the action to a basic verification.

a once-over of

Offers a more informal alternative, suggesting a single, quick review.

FAQs

How can I use "a quick skim of" in a sentence?

"A quick skim of" is used to describe a brief and superficial examination of something. For example, "After a quick skim of the report, I understood the basic premise".

What's a good substitute for "a quick skim of"?

Alternatives include /s/a+brief+overview+of, /s/a+cursory+glance+at, or /s/a+rapid+review+of depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to cite information obtained from "a quick skim of" a source?

It's generally best to avoid citing information based solely on "a quick skim of" a source for academic or professional work. A more thorough review is recommended for accuracy and credibility.

What does it mean to perform "a quick skim of" something?

To perform "a quick skim of" something means to read or look at it briefly and superficially, without paying close attention to detail. It's typically done to get a general sense of the content.