check about

USAGE SUMMARY

'check about' is not proper English usage.
Instead, you could use the phrase "check on" in written English. For example, "I will check on the status of the order before I send it out."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

She had me check about 12, and they weren't similar.

The New York Times

Always check about what you should and shouldn't bring to school.

WikiHow

Recently, I had a quick reality check about risk perception.

The New York Times

Check about a minute in for some inspirationally bad basketball.

The Guardian

Mr Marques also admitted that he had used his computer to check about visas for Russia.

Independent

His friend Nate Solum takes every opportunity to keep Mr. Bardelas in check about his master-of-the-universe address.

The New York Times

Mitchell, who no longer sees clients, strove to give fathers a reality check about which legal battles were worth fighting.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Check about 15 minutes later to make sure chips are smoking and heat is below 300 degrees.

The New York Times - Food

A new analysis published Monday in Archives of Internal Medicine offers a stark reality check about the value of mammography screening.

The New York Times

These payments will almost certainly be larger and quicker than the average check — about $3,200 — that BP has already doled out to 127,000 individuals.

The New York Times

Mr. Dietl said he is careful to give recruits a reality check about what they can expect if he senses they've been watching too much "CSI".

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "check about" with more standard alternatives like "check on", "inquire about", or "ask about" for clearer and more grammatically correct writing.

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "check" when you mean to verify or inquire. "Check on" or "check into" are generally better choices depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "check about" functions as a verb phrase, but it is considered non-standard. Grammatically, it attempts to combine the action of verifying or inquiring (check) with a preposition (about), but this combination doesn't form a recognized idiomatic expression in English. Ludwig AI identifies this as incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

15%

Science

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "check about" appears frequently across various sources, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies this non-standard usage. More appropriate alternatives include "check on", "inquire about", or "ask about", which provide clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express the intended meaning. Using these alternatives will improve the clarity and correctness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

check on

Suggests verifying the status or condition of something.

ask about

A simpler and more direct way to request information.

inquire about

Uses a more formal verb to ask for information.

look into

Implies a more thorough investigation or examination.

verify

Focuses on confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

investigate

Indicates a formal or systematic examination.

examine

A formal term for looking closely at something.

scrutinize

Suggests a very careful and critical examination.

assess

Implies evaluating the nature, ability, or quality of something.

explore

Suggests investigating a topic to learn more about it.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "check about"?

You can use alternatives like "check on", "inquire about", or "ask about" depending on the context.

Is "check about" grammatically correct?

No, "check about" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Use alternatives like "check on" or "inquire about" instead.

How to use "check on" in a sentence?

You can use "check on" to mean to verify the status or condition of something. For example, "I need to check on the progress of the project."

What's the difference between "check on" and "check into"?

"Check on" means to verify the status or condition, while "check into" usually means to investigate or formally examine something, or to register at a hotel.