checked on him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "checked on him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of inquiring about someone's well-being or situation. Example: "After hearing about his illness, I decided to check on him to see how he was doing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

A young doctor checked on him and gave him another shot, and he fell asleep again.

The New Yorker

He was put in an ordinary cell, where officers checked on him every hour.

The Guardian

When officers checked on him later, they found that Mr. Mobley had died.

The New York Times

"I checked on him because he's usually a candidate for dozing off," Ms. Dunning said of her husband.

The New York Times

So it was no surprise that Mr. Maddix, 51, was dead for more than 12 hours before an aide finally checked on him.

The New York Times

Mr. Morello said he did not know how much time had elapsed between the time Mr. Mobley was put in the cell and the moment officers checked on him.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Jurors were told that medical staff failed to check on him despite noticing that his breathing had dropped.

The Guardian

There is one chance, at least, of checking on him.

The Guardian

At one point, she said, when officers tried to check on him, Mr. Gray was unresponsive, yet no action was taken.

The New York Times

He checks on him.

The New York Times - Sports

His Mother enters to check on him.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "checked on him" when you want to convey a sense of care or responsibility in ensuring someone's well-being. It implies a proactive effort to inquire about or observe their condition.

Common error

Avoid using "checked on him" in highly formal or technical writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound too casual. Opt for more formal alternatives like "ascertained his status" or "verified his welfare" for professional documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "checked on him" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action performed to verify someone's well-being. It involves both the action of "checking" and the target of that action, "him". As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a common and accepted expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "checked on him" is a verb phrase used to describe the action of verifying someone's well-being, health, or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound and widely accepted expression. While versatile, it tends to be neutral in formality, fitting seamlessly into news reports and casual conversations but potentially requiring more formal alternatives in academic or technical contexts. To prevent sounding too casual in a formal setting, consider using "ascertained his status" or "verified his welfare". The most common sources using this expression are the The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looked in on him

Similar in meaning, but implies a brief and casual visit.

made sure he was alright

Focuses on ensuring well-being, implying a level of concern beyond a simple check.

saw how he was doing

Emphasizes visual observation and assessment of someone's state.

inquired about his condition

More formal; suggests a specific inquiry into someone's state of health or circumstances.

assessed his state

Focuses on evaluating someone's current condition, whether physical or emotional.

followed up with him

Indicates a continuation of a previous interaction, with an element of monitoring.

verified his welfare

Formal and emphasizes a process or action aimed at confirming someone's well-being.

ascertained his status

Formal; suggests a methodical determination of someone's situation or position.

made inquiries about him

Formal; suggesting a broader search for information about the person.

kept tabs on him

Implies discreet monitoring, often for security or strategic reasons.

FAQs

What does "checked on him" mean?

The phrase "checked on him" means to have made an inquiry or observation to ensure someone's well-being or condition. It implies a proactive effort to verify their status.

What can I say instead of "checked on him"?

You can use alternatives like "looked in on him", "made sure he was alright", or "inquired about his condition" depending on the context.

How to use "checked on him" in a sentence?

Example: "The officer checked on him every hour." Another example: "I checked on him to see if he needed anything."

Is "checked on him" formal or informal?

The phrase "checked on him" is generally considered neutral in formality. While suitable for everyday conversation and news reports, it may be too informal for highly technical or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "ascertained his status" in formal contexts.