check firsthand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "check firsthand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize that you are verifying or experiencing something directly, rather than relying on secondhand information. Example: "To truly understand the situation, I need to check firsthand by visiting the site myself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I realized I wanted to check firsthand how a maimed insect felt.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She also advises collectors to judge works in the context of others by the artist from the same period and to check condition firsthand to see what repairs have been made rather than rely on a gallery's or auction house's condition report.

The New York Times - Arts

But what they wanted me to check out firsthand was one of their intravenous wellness drips.

Vice

"I wanted to check it out firsthand".

The New York Times - Arts

The Travel section's practice requires a firsthand check of a destination before it is recommended in print.

The New York Times - Travel

A widespread belief among nonscientists is that journal editors and their reviewers check authors' research firsthand and even repeat the research.

The New York Times - Health

She negotiated the price down to $500 and arranged for a veterinarian to draw blood for a Coggins test, give a rabies shot and check out the conditions firsthand in case there were charges brought against Timo's owner or the stable owner who stood by doing nothing.

The New York Times

I wrote an article on cage fighting a few weeks back and the president of the Melbourne-based Australian Fighting Championship, Adam Milankovic, invited me to check out the sport firsthand.

Vice

Dr. Weaver also did firsthand fact-checking of the report, hiking and riding a horse through the rugged territory for four months.

The New York Times

And if there's a party prize for the greatest number of accurate predictions (or if you're making predictions in the office pool), it certainly doesn't hurt to have checked out the nominees firsthand.

The New York Times

In a 2001 lawsuit, one former operative for the agency asserted that the bombing, in which three Chinese journalists were killed and 20 members of the embassy staff were wounded, could have been prevented had Mr. Shedd and others checked with people who had firsthand knowledge of Belgrade.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "check firsthand" to emphasize that you are personally verifying information, providing a sense of direct engagement and reliability.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on reports from others; "check firsthand" to ensure accuracy and gain a comprehensive understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "check firsthand" functions as a verb phrase emphasizing the direct verification or examination of something. Ludwig AI shows that it highlights the importance of personal involvement in confirming information, rather than relying on secondary sources.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "check firsthand" signifies the act of personally verifying or examining something directly. According to Ludwig, this emphasizes the importance of direct involvement in confirming information and avoiding reliance on secondhand reports. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for various contexts, especially in news and media where accurate and direct verification is essential. Consider alternatives like "verify personally" or "examine directly" to achieve the same emphasis on direct verification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

verify personally

Replaces "check" with "verify" and "firsthand" with "personally", focusing on personal verification.

confirm personally

Replaces "check" with "confirm" and "firsthand" with "personally", emphasizing personal confirmation.

validate directly

Replaces "check" with "validate" and "firsthand" with "directly", emphasizing direct validation.

examine directly

Substitutes "check" with "examine" and "firsthand" with "directly", emphasizing a direct examination.

assess directly

Substitutes "check" with "assess" and "firsthand" with "directly", emphasizing a direct assessment.

investigate personally

Replaces "check" with "investigate" and "firsthand" with "personally", focusing on a personal investigation.

ascertain personally

Replaces "check" with "ascertain" and "firsthand" with "personally", focusing on a personal ascertainment.

see for oneself

Offers a more idiomatic way to express the idea of personal verification.

evaluate firsthand

Focuses on direct evaluation rather than just checking.

experience directly

Focuses on direct experience rather than just checking.

FAQs

How can I use "check firsthand" in a sentence?

You can use "check firsthand" to emphasize direct verification, such as: "To truly understand the situation, I need to "check firsthand" by visiting the site myself."

What can I say instead of "check firsthand"?

You can use alternatives like "verify personally", "examine directly", or "see for oneself" depending on the context.

What does it mean to "check firsthand"?

To ""check firsthand"" means to personally verify or examine something directly, rather than relying on secondhand information or reports.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "check firsthand"?

It's appropriate to use ""check firsthand"" when you want to emphasize the importance of direct personal experience in verifying or understanding something.