a simple inspection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a simple inspection" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an uncomplicated or straightforward examination of something. Example: "Before we proceed with the repairs, let's conduct a simple inspection of the equipment to identify any visible issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

A simple inspection of the ref. Cell-IDs of neighbor grids is sufficient to detect grids with erroneous fingerprints.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

A simple inspection of how persistence depends on some tie features corroborates some results found in the literature.

EPJ Data Science

Note that the following code also includes erroneous fingerprint detection in the arc section by a simple inspection of the ref. Cell-IDs of neighbor grids.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This assumption is acceptable since concrete structures subject to severe deterioration are blatant and therefore do not require to be tested, a simple inspection by naked eye is enough.

ROBOMECH Journal

We start by drawing the scatterplots of the variables capturing the monopolistic power of governments with the wage gap (see Fig. 2), where the corresponding bivariate regressions are showed in Table 8 in the Appendix 2. A simple inspection of the raw data reveals that some of the patterns predicted by the theory hold (unconditionally) in our sample of countries.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Table 1 lists these events, represented by different strains and a simple inspection reveals the frequent role of NA, HA, and PB1 in the reassortment process.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

This study uses an information processing approach to investigate whether reliable individual differences in wholistic analytic processing can be detected using a simpler inspection time type task.

Personality and Individual Differences

As a consequence, the simple inspection of the hand or the foot is sometimes of value in assessing the affinities of animals with two, three or four digits, and this is obviously relevant when we deal with fossils.

BMC Biology

Simple inspection of a tongue-tie is not enough to determine which infants should be offered early frenotomy, and clinical assessment must include observation and measurement of the effectiveness of feeding.

Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition

The advert said: "The only MOT regulation regarding the DPF is a simple visual inspection.

The Guardian

He also said the detectives should have done more than a simple visual inspection of the roofers before ruling them out as suspects.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a simple inspection" when you want to convey that an examination is easy to perform and doesn't require extensive knowledge or tools. For example, "A simple inspection of the tires can reveal if they need replacing."

Common error

Avoid using "a simple inspection" when the context actually requires a thorough and detailed analysis. Misusing it can mislead the audience about the scope and rigor of the evaluation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a simple inspection" functions as a noun phrase, where "simple" modifies the noun "inspection". It is used to describe the act of examining something in an uncomplicated manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a simple inspection" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe an uncomplicated examination. As Ludwig AI states, it’s suitable when referring to an easily performed evaluation. The phrase is commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts. While it appears in various sources, overstating the depth of the inspection can be a common error. Alternatives like "a basic check" or "a quick look" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a basic check

Replaces "inspection" with a more general term for examination, implying a less thorough process.

a quick look

Emphasizes the speed and superficiality of the examination.

a brief assessment

Focuses on the evaluative aspect of the examination, suggesting a concise judgment.

a cursory review

Highlights the lack of detailed attention in the examination.

an easy examination

Stresses the uncomplicated nature of the examination process.

a straightforward check

Underscores the direct and uncomplicated nature of the examination.

a visual scan

Specifies that the examination is primarily based on visual observation.

a surface-level review

Indicates that the examination does not delve into deep details.

a preliminary observation

Suggests the examination is an initial step, not a complete analysis.

a spot check

Implies an unscheduled or random examination for verification.

FAQs

How can I use "a simple inspection" in a sentence?

You can use "a simple inspection" to describe an easy and straightforward examination, like "A simple inspection of the engine revealed a loose wire."

What's a good alternative to "a simple inspection"?

Depending on the context, you could use "a basic check", "a quick look", or "a cursory review".

When is it appropriate to use "a simple inspection"?

Use "a simple inspection" when referring to an examination that is easy to perform and doesn't require specialized knowledge or tools. It's suitable when the issue is likely to be obvious or easily detectable.

Is "a simple inspection" the same as "a thorough inspection"?

No, "a simple inspection" implies a quick and basic examination, while "a thorough inspection" indicates a detailed and comprehensive analysis. They are opposites in terms of depth and effort.