a surface examination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a surface examination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a preliminary or superficial assessment of something, often implying that a more in-depth analysis is needed. Example: "The report provided a surface examination of the issue, but further investigation is required to understand the underlying causes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Even a surface examination of these two events yields interesting and contrasting reflections.

Columbia University

A surface examination of the fracture region revealed striations, and it was confirmed that the fracture mode was fatigue.

Engineering Failure Analysis

A surface examination of records would not have revealed these problems.

BioMed Research International

This will reduce the possibility of biases in enrolment and the risk of false negative results (e.g. when a surface examination of a baby was not complete).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Its methods, case record forms (CRFs) and training materials (including a DVD showing how to conduct a surface examination of a newborn) have been tested for feasibility in five countries (four in Africa and one in South America).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This was tentatively thought to be due to orpiment, a pigment that has been found in Giotto's works, but a close surface examination did not reveal any of the typical yellow tablet-shaped particles of orpiment.

Heritage Science

Immediately after delivery, the baby (whether alive or stillborn) will undergo a careful physical surface examination and the details recorded on a Pregnancy Outcome CRF (CRF2 – see Additional file 2).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The proposed analytical approach uses easily measured metallographic parameters, obtained from a systematic two-dimensional surface examination, to provide a detailed description on the time dependence of nucleation, nucleation rate, growth rate and interfacial migration and compared with the classical approach based on Kolomogrov formalism.

Acta Materialia

A potentiostat for electrochemical corrosion tests, a cathodic arc physical vapour deposition coating system for coating processes, a scanning electron microscopy for surface examination and elemental analysis of the coatings were used in this study.

Materials Characterization

However, later surface examination of a grey green grain under vacuum condition in SEM EDS analysis clearly showed most of the constituent elements of green earth like celadonite, K Mg,Fe2+)(Fe3+,Al)[Si4O10](or)2, or glauconite, (K,Na)(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+)(Fe3+,as)(shown)4O10(OH)2, as shown in Fig. 7.

Heritage Science

Weight loss measurements coupled with surface examination and solution analysis is a effective tool to characterize and quantify the AC corrosion of mild steel in marine environments.

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a surface examination" when you want to convey that the assessment was not thorough and a more detailed analysis might be needed.

Common error

Avoid making critical decisions based solely on "a surface examination". Ensure further investigation is conducted for accurate and comprehensive results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a surface examination" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI suggests, it denotes a preliminary or superficial assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

80%

Academia

20%

News & Media

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a surface examination" refers to a preliminary or superficial assessment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While the phrase is more common in scientific and academic contexts, its overall frequency is rare. When using this phrase, be mindful that it implies the assessment was not exhaustive, and further investigation might be necessary. Alternatives such as "a cursory inspection" or "a preliminary review" can be considered for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a cursory inspection

Emphasizes the brief and rapid nature of the inspection.

a superficial assessment

Highlights the lack of depth in the evaluation.

a preliminary review

Focuses on the initial stage of the review process.

a brief overview

Stresses the concise nature of the summary.

a quick look

Emphasizes the speed and lack of thoroughness.

an initial scan

Suggests a rapid and broad overview.

a top-level analysis

Indicates an analysis that only considers the most important aspects.

a light investigation

Suggests a limited and not exhaustive investigation.

a shallow probe

Highlights the minimal depth of the investigation.

a once-over

Informal term for a quick and simple look.

FAQs

How can I use "a surface examination" in a sentence?

You can use "a surface examination" to describe a preliminary investigation, such as, "The initial report offered "a surface examination" of the problem, but a deeper dive is necessary."

What are some alternatives to "a surface examination"?

Alternatives include "a cursory inspection", "a superficial assessment", or "a preliminary review" depending on the specific context.

What does "a surface examination" imply?

It implies that the investigation or assessment was not comprehensive and may have missed important details. Further investigation may be required.

Is "a surface examination" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "a surface examination" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when indicating the limitations of an initial assessment. More formal alternatives like "a cursory inspection" may also be considered.