cursorily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cursorily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something done hastily or without attention to detail. Example: "The report was cursorily reviewed, leading to several overlooked errors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The marchers claim that when the government cursorily consulted them it had already carried out engineering studies, arranged financing (partly from Brazil's national development bank, BNDES) and hired OAS, a Brazilian construction firm.The government lamely tried to claim that the United States and the conservative opposition were behind the march.

The Economist

The media are hugely stacked against the opposition, which is rarely given even a cursorily polite airing by the all-state-run radio and television services.

The Economist

Murky business Occupied land Let them eat yellowcake ReprintsAborigines were mentioned cursorily in the constitution, and only to exclude them from the new country built on their tribal lands.

The Economist

She deals no more than cursorily with the Armenian massacres during the first world war, preferring to observe that scholarship has suffered from the highly-charged contemporary dispute over whether the killings constitute genocide.

The Economist

Some delicate but pressing issues were mentioned only cursorily.

The Economist

Young people in the banlieues told me that colonial history is cursorily taught, and literature from former colonies hardly read.

The New Yorker

David differs from his creator in many ways, however, though Dickens used many early experiences that had meant much to him his period of work in the factory while his father was jailed, his schooling and reading, his passion for Maria Beadnell, and (more cursorily) his emergence from parliamentary reporting into successful novel writing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although Copperfield differs from his creator in many ways, Dickens relates early personal experiences that had meant much to him his own period of work in a factory while his father was jailed, his schooling and reading, his passion for Maria Beadnell (a woman much like Dora Spenlow), and (more cursorily) his emergence from parliamentary reporting into successful novel writing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In much conventional animation we're invited to do the fill in work ourselves, mentally pasting a rock-like texture on to the rock-like shape and often doing it so cursorily that we never really "see" the effect.

Independent

They are two of the three songs on Jansch's recent album The Black Swan that feature Orton, which suggests that they may have been played before, more than cursorily.

Independent

It looks so pale and withdrawn from us, this almost cursorily limned, dully functional room of sorts, quite crude and almost childlike in its fashioning.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid ambiguity, ensure the context makes it clear what aspect was treated "cursorily". For example: "The report was "cursorily" reviewed" specifies that the review, not the report itself, was superficial.

Common error

While "cursorily" is grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound overly critical or informal in certain formal contexts. Consider using a more neutral alternative such as "briefly" or "superficially" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cursorily" is that of an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig provides several examples of how "cursorily" modifies verbs, such as "cursorily reviewed" or "cursorily taught".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

13%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "cursorily" effectively conveys a lack of thoroughness in an action. Ludwig AI highlights its frequent use in news and media, as well as encyclopedic and academic contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While grammatically sound, writers should be mindful of the potential for a critical tone and consider alternatives like "superficially" or "briefly" in certain formal settings. Remember to clearly specify what aspect was treated "cursorily" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

superficially

Refers to dealing with a subject on the surface, lacking depth or thoroughness.

hastily

Implies speed and urgency, often resulting in a lack of attention to detail.

perfunctorily

Suggests a routine or duty performed without enthusiasm or care.

briefly

Indicates a short duration or limited scope of attention.

quickly

Focuses on speed, without necessarily implying a lack of care or attention.

sketchily

Suggests that something is done in an incomplete or underdeveloped manner.

casually

Implies a lack of seriousness or formality in the way something is done.

desultorily

Describes something done in a random or disconnected manner, lacking focus.

carelessly

Indicates a lack of attention or concern, potentially leading to errors.

in passing

Suggests a brief or incidental mention or treatment of something.

FAQs

How can I use "cursorily" in a sentence?

You can use "cursorily" to describe an action that is done quickly and without attention to detail. For example, "The document was "cursorily" reviewed before being sent out."

What's a good alternative to "cursorily"?

Alternatives to "cursorily" include "superficially", "briefly", or "hastily" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something was "cursorily" examined?

Yes, it is correct to say something was "cursorily" examined. This implies the examination was quick and not very thorough.

What is the difference between "cursorily" and "thoroughly"?

"Cursorily" means doing something quickly and without much attention to detail, while "thoroughly" means doing something completely and with great attention to detail. They are antonyms.