cursory visit

USAGE SUMMARY

"cursory visit" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It refers to a brief or hasty visit, one that is done quickly and without much attention or detail. Example: During his busy trip, the president made a cursory visit to the local school to greet the students and staff.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

We didn't actually fully investigate them, we just made a cursory visit and went back to all of our keyboards looking at everybody's emails and text messages.

The Guardian

*Even the most cursory visit to any major metropolitan museum or reading of any major literary canon would show that rather than damaging human civilization, religious cultures have constituted it.

The New York Times - Science

For instance, after a cursory visit to the Williams-Sonoma Web site, which promised New Year's Eve delivery for orders placed by 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday, I phoned to double-check.

The New York Times - Tech

I paid only a cursory visit to the koalas at Healesville because I intended to drive east to the beautiful national park at Wilson's Promontory, affectionately known as the Prom, and find my koalas in the wild.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not only did Wittgenstein, on a by no means cursory visit to the Soviet Union in 1935, grasp little of the nature of the regime, but the ascent of Nazism left him either indifferent or blind.

The Guardian - Books

Often, Mr. Selby hears about a compelling home through friends, and after a cursory visit he sets up a shoot — a process, he says, that is loose and collaborative.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Some councils are still commissioning 15-minute care visits, despite strong government guidance that such cursory visits are seen as wholly inadequate.

The Guardian

Traditional teacher evaluations often consist of cursory classroom visits by principals who declare nearly every teacher good, or at least competent, even in failing schools where few if any children meet basic educational standards.

The New York Times

Traditional teacher evaluations typically involve cursory observations by school administrators who visit the classroom once or twice — without taking student achievement into account.

The New York Times

I have no strong feelings for or against the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit, and give only a cursory look as a segment on the evening news.

The Guardian - Opinion

The reason Cabral is credited with having discovered Brazil, rather than the Spanish explorers, is because the visits by Pinzón and Lepe were cursory and had no lasting impact.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cursory visit" when you want to emphasize that an inspection, review, or visit was brief and not thorough. It implies a lack of depth or attention to detail.

Common error

While "cursory visit" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal reports or academic papers. Opt for alternatives like "brief examination" or "preliminary assessment" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cursory visit" functions as an adjective-noun combination where "cursory" modifies "visit". It describes the type of visit, indicating that it was brief, superficial, and lacking thoroughness. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cursory visit" is a grammatically correct and usable term that describes a brief and superficial examination or inspection. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase suggests a lack of thoroughness and depth. While the phrase appears more commonly in News & Media contexts, its register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for various writing styles. However, in very formal or academic contexts, consider using alternatives like "brief examination" or "preliminary assessment" for a more polished tone. Keep in mind that a "cursory visit" implies a quick look without a detailed assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brief examination

Focuses on the examination aspect, highlighting its brevity.

quick look

Emphasizes the speed and superficiality of the observation.

hasty inspection

Stresses the rushed nature of the inspection.

superficial assessment

Highlights the lack of depth in the evaluation.

fleeting visit

Emphasizes the short duration of the visit.

perfunctory review

Suggests the review was carried out as a routine task, lacking genuine interest.

shallow investigation

Highlights that the investigation was not thorough.

passing glance

Conveys a quick and often dismissive look.

limited inquiry

Highlights the restricted scope of the inquiry.

token gesture of visiting

Emphasizes that the visit was merely a symbolic act with little substance.

FAQs

How to use "cursory visit" in a sentence?

You can use "cursory visit" to describe a short and not thorough visit. For example, "The inspector paid a "cursory visit" to the factory, spending only a few minutes in each department."

What can I say instead of "cursory visit"?

You can use alternatives like "brief examination", "quick look", or "hasty inspection" depending on the context.

Is "cursory visit" formal or informal?

"Cursory visit" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for news reports and general writing but may need to be replaced with a more formal term like "preliminary assessment" in academic contexts.

What does "cursory" mean in the context of "cursory visit"?

In the context of "cursory visit", "cursory" means hasty, not thorough, or superficial. It indicates that the visit was conducted quickly and without much attention to detail.