checking my diary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "checking my diary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of looking at your diary to review or note down events, appointments, or thoughts. Example: "I need to see if I'm free this weekend, so I'll be checking my diary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Checking my diary and appointments, catching up with emails and prioritising tasks is my usual starting point, along with a strong coffee.

The Guardian

I had planned to spend my "sitting" time writing future menus in my head, checking my diary or making "to do" lists during the rest periods, but I soon realised that I was wishing to work as hard, and as intensely, as he was.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I went back and I checked my diary.

The Guardian

I've just checked my diary, there's no entry for that day.

The Guardian - Opinion

Before leaving work I like to check my diary and plan ahead as much as possible, as I am often out of the office for a few days at a time, so may need specific documents.

The Guardian

The famous and characteristic green rolling hills of the province — beautiful walking country — are bringing me back on every trip now and I'm starting to know the central part of it: the capital city of Macerata, Treia, Pollenza, Urbisaglia, Tolentino (home to the saint and one of the finest frescoed rooms in the world), S. Severino; while I work on the more formal pages, do check my diary.

University of Chicago

If you have trouble saying "no" start by saying "I'll have to think about that", "I'll have to check my diary" or "I'll get back to you".

WikiHow

"The Iced-Coffee Diaries" "Never Checking My Voice Mail (and Other Bad Habits)" "Is This What Being an Adult Is Like?" "That Time I Had Sex with a Barista and Other Stories That Probably Didn't Need to Be Shared" "Cereal for Dinner: Life as a Twentysomething Who's Poor, but Not Poor Poor" "Responsibilities?

The New Yorker

I check my emails and my diary to organise my day.

The Guardian

I can't resist checking her diary.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They want you to say "yes" with genuine enthusiasm, otherwise you sound like someone checking your diary after being invited to the best party on the planet.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "checking my diary" in your writing, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're looking for existing entries or planning to add new ones. For example, 'I'm checking my diary to see if I have any appointments this week' vs. 'I'm checking my diary to pencil in our meeting'.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, avoid overusing the phrase "checking my diary" in highly formal writing, such as academic papers or legal documents. More professional alternatives like "reviewing my schedule" or "consulting my agenda" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "checking my diary" is as a gerund phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to describe an ongoing action. Ludwig examples show it used to describe reviewing schedules and planning activities. Ludwig AI also confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "checking my diary" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe the act of reviewing one's schedule or appointments. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. While it is suitable for various contexts, including News & Media and informal communications, more formal alternatives like "consulting my schedule" may be preferred in professional settings. Ensure clarity by specifying whether you're looking for existing entries or planning to add new ones. As confirmed by Ludwig, its widespread usage and versatile application make it a valuable phrase for everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Consulting my schedule

Emphasizes a more formal review of a pre-existing schedule.

Looking at my planner

Replaces "diary" with "planner", implying a physical or digital planning tool.

Taking a look at my calendar

Uses "calendar" as a synonym for "diary" or "planner".

Reviewing my appointments

Focuses specifically on appointments rather than a general diary.

Verifying my schedule

Highlights the act of confirming the accuracy of a schedule.

Seeing what's on my agenda

Uses "agenda" to denote a list of things to do, typically for a specific period.

Confirming my availability

Shifts the focus to confirming whether time is free.

Figuring out my schedule

Implies a process of arranging or understanding one's schedule.

Going over my commitments

Focuses on pre-existing obligations.

Seeing when I am free

Simplifies to the act of finding available time slots.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "checking my diary"?

You can use alternatives like "consulting my schedule", "looking at my planner", or "reviewing my appointments" depending on the context.

Is it okay to say "check my diary"?

Yes, "check my diary" is grammatically correct and widely used. It's a common way to express the act of reviewing one's schedule or appointments.

How do I use "checking my diary" in a sentence?

You can use it to indicate the action of looking at your diary to find information, such as "I'm "checking my diary" to see when I'm free for a meeting" or to recall past events, such as "I'm "checking my diary" to make sure that date is correct".

Which is correct, "checking my diary" or "check my diary"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different uses. "Checking my diary" is used in continuous tenses (e.g., "I am checking my diary"), while "check my diary" is used in imperative or base forms (e.g., "Please check my diary").