check all that apply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "check all that apply" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used in forms or surveys where the person filling it out is asked to select multiple options that may apply to them. An example sentence using this phrase would be: "Please check all that apply to your skill set: coding, graphic design, project management, customer service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

You consider yourself to be (check all that apply): ___ Caucasian.

The New Yorker

By Diana Vilibert and Amy Hwang July 19, 2017 (Check all that apply).

The New Yorker

My/Our nominee site is (check all that apply): bigger ___ / older ___ / more congenial to narwhals, bison, and illegal aliens ____ / nearer to A.T.M.s ____ than the Colossus of Rhodes or Steve Wynn's new Las Vegas hotel is.

The New Yorker

SITE QUALIFICATIONS 1. My/Our nominee site is (check all that apply): bigger ___ / older ___ / more congenial to narwhals, bison, and illegal aliens ____ / nearer to A.T.M.s ____ than the Colossus of Rhodes or Steve Wynn's new Las Vegas hotel is. 2. My/Our nominee site: Can be climbed by the nervous and the elderly.

The New Yorker

If yes, what method did you use: (Check all that apply) (Cell phone picture/Emailed photo or video/Skype real time/PACS or other wireless/transmission/Other: _).

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Question 22. (Check all that apply) In your practice, do you have access to: (Reliable Internet/Reliable power supply/Skype/PACS or other wireless upload of images from machine to web).

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Temporal Check-All-That-Apply (TCATA) has been recently introduced as a method for temporal sensory product characterization.

Food Research International

We focus here on concurrent elicitation of hedonic and sensory product characterisation by check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions.

Food Quality and Preference

The aim of the present work was to compare static and dynamic sensory product characterizations based on check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions with consumers.

Food Research International

Results from the check-all-that-apply question showed that consumers associated the shape and colour of bottles with specific types and styles of wine.

Food Quality and Preference

Besides, the yogurts were evaluated by 3 groups of 81 consumers using three rapid methodologies: check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions, projective mapping and polarized sensory positioning.

Food Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "check all that apply" in surveys, ensure the options are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid providing options where not all possible answers are covered. If necessary, include an "other" option with a text field for respondents to provide additional information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "check all that apply" functions as an instruction or directive in forms, surveys, and questionnaires. As Ludwig AI explains, it prompts the respondent to select every option from a provided list that is relevant to their specific circumstances, allowing for multiple selections.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "check all that apply" is a common and grammatically correct instruction used in forms and surveys to prompt users to select multiple relevant options. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage. While "check all that apply" is suitable for most contexts, alternatives such as "select all applicable options" may be preferred in more formal settings. Remember to ensure options are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and BMC Nursing frequently employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

select all applicable options

This alternative uses more formal language, replacing "check" with "select" and adding "options" for clarity.

mark all that are relevant

This suggests marking relevant items instead of "checking" them.

indicate all that are true

This alternative is suitable when the options are statements that can be true or false.

choose all that are appropriate

Replaces "check" with "choose" and "apply" with "appropriate" implying suitability.

tick all that correspond

Uses "tick" as a synonym for "check" and "correspond" to mean matching the user's situation.

select multiple answers

This alternative emphasizes the possibility of selecting more than one answer.

identify all matching items

This option uses the word identify suggesting some work of selection for the user to perform.

complete as many as necessary

This shifts the focus to completing relevant sections as required.

answer all relevant questions

Focuses on answering questions that are relevant to the user.

fill in all that apply

Replaces "check" with "fill in", implying to complete sections.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "check all that apply" in a formal context?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases like "select all applicable options" or "indicate all that are true" to maintain a professional tone.

What does "check all that apply" mean?

The phrase "check all that apply" instructs the respondent to select every option from a provided list that is relevant or applicable to their situation. It indicates that multiple selections are possible.

Is it better to use "check all that apply" or "select all that apply"?

Both "check all that apply" and "select all that apply" are correct and widely understood. "Select all that apply" is more formal, while "check all that apply" is more conversational. The best choice depends on the tone and context of your writing.

Where is it common to see the phrase "check all that apply"?

You'll frequently encounter "check all that apply" in surveys, forms, questionnaires, and applications where respondents are asked to choose multiple options from a list.