have a quick look

USAGE SUMMARY

"have a quick look" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to take a brief glance at something. For example: "Can you have a quick look at this document before I submit it?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

What did they do exactly — just have a quick look?

The Guardian

"Could I just have a quick look in the office?" she says.

The Guardian - Books

"You can have a quick look at my pictures if you want," he says.

The Guardian - Sport

Inspired by this, I thought I'd have a quick look around for women-friendly tech audio.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

For your own edification, have a quick look at the datasheet for the DC motor with rotary encoder.

Stanford University

Before we take a listen to this beauty from 1974, let's have a quick look at the cover.

The Guardian - Music

For your own edification, you might wish to have a quick look at the datasheet for the DC motor with rotary encoder.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

8.35am: I've had a quick look at the papers.

The Guardian

Like, 'Just having a quick look.' " "There's no law against it," Cipollone added.

The New York Times - Sports

Had a quick look at some of the online levels and they looked excellent as well.

The Guardian - Tech

2.07pm BST We've just been having a quick look at the red tops' Glastonbury coverage.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have a quick look" when you want to suggest a brief and informal examination of something. It's suitable for everyday conversation and less formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "have a quick look" in formal or professional documents. Instead, opt for more formal alternatives such as "examine briefly" or "review quickly" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a quick look" functions as an idiomatic expression used to request or suggest a brief examination. It is commonly used in spoken and written English, as confirmed by Ludwig, to indicate a superficial review rather than an in-depth analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

16%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have a quick look" is a very common idiomatic phrase used to suggest or request a brief examination. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral to informal, it's best to avoid it in formal writing, opting for alternatives like "examine briefly". The phrase functions primarily to prompt a quick assessment and is frequently found in authoritative sources like The Guardian and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a glance

This alternative suggests an even briefer examination.

glance at

A more concise way to say "have a quick look".

take a peek

Implies a secretive or casual look.

scan briefly

Suggests a rapid and superficial examination.

peruse quickly

Suggests a more thorough but still fast reading.

examine briefly

Implies a more formal and focused but short review.

check briefly

Suggests a brief verification or inspection.

cast an eye over

An idiomatic way of saying to look at something quickly.

skim through

Implies reading quickly and superficially.

flick through

Suggests browsing quickly, often through pages.

FAQs

How can I use "have a quick look" in a sentence?

You can use "have a quick look" to ask someone to examine something briefly, as in "Can you "have a quick look" at this report for me?"

What can I say instead of "have a quick look"?

You can use alternatives like "take a glance", "glance at", or "examine briefly" depending on the context.

Is "have a quick look" appropriate for formal writing?

While "have a quick look" is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts, it's better to use more formal alternatives such as "review briefly" or "examine quickly" in formal writing.

What's the difference between "have a quick look" and "take a look"?

"Have a quick look" emphasizes the brevity of the examination, while "take a look" is a more general term for looking at something. The addition of "quick" specifies that the examination should not be extensive.