do a quick search

USAGE SUMMARY

'do a quick search' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you're asking someone to do a quick internet search to find information. For example: "If you're not sure what restaurant to go to, do a quick search to see what's nearby."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

So I do a quick search for advertised jobs.

The Guardian

You do a quick search for a robotic dog and buy one with a single click.

The Guardian - Tech

(Do a quick search of the phrase "The Triumph Of" on the Review's Web site).

The New Yorker

Even if that difficulty could not be overcome, he continued, such technology could be useful in enemy territory if it was necessary to do a quick search for hidden nuclear bombs.

The New Yorker

Do a quick search on Instagram and you will find reams of "thinspiration" material, usually in the form of pictures that glamorises the extreme skinniness of various models and celebrities.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hellboy 2? Do a quick search on ThePirateBay.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

The last time I picked a mover, I remember doing a quick search online and then signing up with the first mover I called.

The New York Times

MacDonough went onto the App Store, did a quick search and saw there were no double-dating apps – and Double was born.

The Guardian

"As soon as I got off the phone I did a quick search on the internet and found two pages of text which described the procedure.

The Guardian

Dr. Ann Clark, an OB-GYN in Louisville, Ky., figured that this was some kind of problem of the abdominal muscles and did a quick search on PubMed to come up with the diagnosis of abdominal phrenic dyssynergia.

The New York Times

I recently did a quick search on Travelocity for green rental cars in San Francisco, and Toyota Prius models or similar green cars were generally priced at a large premium over equivalent rental cars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to find information, be specific about where they should perform the search (e.g., "Do a quick search on Google Scholar" versus "Do a quick search").

Common error

Avoid using "do a quick search" without specifying the platform or source. For example, instead of saying, "Do a quick search," specify, "Do a quick search on YouTube" to provide clear direction.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "do a quick search" is as an imperative phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across numerous examples, functioning as a command or instruction to perform an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "do a quick search" is a common and grammatically correct way to instruct someone to find information rapidly, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most frequently used in News & Media and Wiki contexts, with a neutral to informal register. While perfectly acceptable for general use, providing specificity about the search platform (e.g., Google, YouTube) is a best practice. For more formal communication, consider alternatives like "perform a brief search". Overall, "do a quick search" is a versatile and widely understood phrase for encouraging efficient information retrieval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perform a brief search

Replaces "do" with "perform" and "quick" with "brief", maintaining a formal tone.

run a fast search

Substitutes "quick" with "fast", offering a slightly more informal feel.

conduct a rapid search

Uses "conduct" instead of "do" and "rapid" for "quick", increasing formality.

carry out a speedy search

Employs "carry out" for "do" and "speedy" for "quick", adding a touch of emphasis.

make a swift inquiry

Replaces "search" with "inquiry", shifting the focus to a more investigative approach.

quickly search

Simplifies the phrase by using "quickly" as an adverb.

look something up quickly

Specifies the action as looking up something, implying a targeted search.

do a fast scan

Replaces search with the word scan, which is a similar concept.

check briefly

Simplifies the instruction to a simple check, implying a search for validation.

investigate briefly

Uses investigate briefly instead of search quickly, implying a quick research.

FAQs

What does "do a quick search" mean?

The phrase "do a quick search" means to perform a brief and immediate search for information, typically online, to find something specific.

How can I use "do a quick search" in a sentence?

You can use "do a quick search" to instruct someone to find information rapidly, such as, "If you need the address, "do a quick search" online."

What can I say instead of "do a quick search"?

You can use alternatives like "perform a brief search", "quickly search", or "look something up quickly depending on the context".

Is "do a quick search" formal or informal?

The phrase "do a quick search" is generally considered informal to neutral and is suitable for everyday conversations and instructions. More formal contexts might benefit from using "conduct a rapid search" or similar phrases.