check for himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "check for himself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone wants to verify or confirm something personally, rather than relying on someone else's account or information. Example: "He decided to check for himself whether the rumors about the new policy were true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He often asks about the market several times a day, aides said, and he will occasionally flip his television to CNBC to check for himself.

The Washington Post

"Can you keep us up to date with the Golf Boys' progress?" he yawns, too bone idle to check for himself that Rickie Paul and Hunterer (George) are both positioned nicely at -2, Bubba (Ringo) has Bubba-da-bubba-da-buggered off for the weekend, boo hoody hoody hoo, and Ben Winston Ono Crane does that late-70s househusband-at-Dakota thing whenever the majors are on.

The Guardian - Sport

But in 2000 Congress added a provision allowing a worker to file for Social Security at 66, so his spouse could collect, and then "suspend" his own benefits, thereby earning a bigger delayed retirement check for himself and, very likely, his widow.

Forbes

After the Commando headquarters group had landed, Commander Ryder went to check for himself that Campbeltown was firmly stuck in the dock.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He checked for himself, then returned to the telephone.

The New York Times

Mr Warburton acknowledged Pennant should have checked for himself but did not.

The Guardian - Sport

But he checked for himself, and found he could book himself on a flight to London from Sofia.

The Guardian

This was an honest mistake, and when I pointed it out, Savage immediately checked for himself, confirmed the error and set about retracting the articles.

The Washington Post

In the world's face, as ever, he also took in the lavish decadence of late Weimar democracy, checking for himself the stubble on the chins of the transvestites.

The Guardian - Books

"Taubman could write the whole check for that himself," said Doug Smith, an official at the state's economic development agency.

The New York Times

Again the reader may wish to check these calculations for himself.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "check for himself" when you want to emphasize that someone is personally verifying information, often due to doubt or a need for assurance.

Common error

Avoid unnecessary use of reflexive pronouns when the context already implies personal action. For instance, instead of saying "He will check for himself", consider "He will check" if it's clear he's doing it personally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "check for himself" functions as a verbal phrase with a reflexive pronoun. It indicates that the subject is personally performing the action of checking or verifying something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

12.5%

Less common in

Science

12.5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "check for himself" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize personal verification or confirmation. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in various contexts. While not exceptionally common, it appears most frequently in news and media sources. Alternatives like "verify personally" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants the emphasis on personal action and avoid overuse of reflexive pronouns. As demonstrated by the examples provided by Ludwig, the phrase effectively conveys the act of someone taking direct responsibility for confirming information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

verify personally

Focuses on the act of personal verification, removing the reflexive pronoun.

confirm independently

Emphasizes confirming something without external influence or assistance.

ascertain firsthand

Highlights obtaining information directly and personally.

investigate personally

Emphasizes a personal investigation to verify information.

examine directly

Focuses on direct examination as a means of personal verification.

personally validate

Highlights the act of personal validation of something.

see for himself

Replaces "check" with "see", emphasizing visual confirmation.

ensure personally

Emphasizes the act of ensuring something personally.

determine directly

Focuses on directly determining the truth or accuracy of something.

scrutinize personally

Emphasizes a detailed and careful personal examination.

FAQs

How can I use "check for himself" in a sentence?

You can use "check for himself" when you want to express that someone is personally verifying something. For example, "He wanted to "verify personally" whether the rumors were true, so he decided to "check for himself".

What does "check for himself" mean?

"Check for himself" means to personally verify or confirm something, rather than relying on someone else's information.

Is there a difference between "check for himself" and "check it out"?

"Check for himself" specifically implies a personal verification, while "check it out" is a more general term for investigating or examining something. You can use alternatives like "investigate personally" if you want to be more specific.

What are some alternatives to "check for himself"?

Alternatives include "verify personally", "confirm independently", or "ascertain firsthand".