leaf through

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "leaf through" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to quickly and casually look through a book or other publication. For example, "I decided to leaf through the cookbook for some inspiration for dinner tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I leaf through.

The New Yorker

Leaf through with your slippers on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We leaf through Bryan's drug sketchbook.

The Guardian - Arts

I leaf through it while looking at the ceiling.

The New York Times - Books

He began to leaf through the case materials.

The New Yorker

Investigative reporters can leaf through musty NCCL minute books.

The Guardian

Maybe we'd leaf through some old Look magazines.

The New Yorker

Before I leave, I leaf through the "Gold Book" of recent VIP guests.

The Guardian - Travel

The pace is perfectly judged so that readers leaf through the holiday album with breath held.

The Guardian - Books

This book found its way into the house, and sometimes I would leaf through it.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is around a third quicker than charging your Nissan LEAF through a conventional socket.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leaf through" when you want to convey a quick, casual examination of a document or book, not a thorough study. For example, "I often "leaf through" magazines while waiting at the doctor's office."

Common error

Avoid using "leaf through" when you mean to describe a detailed or careful reading. Using "study", "examine", or "read carefully" would be more appropriate in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaf through" functions primarily as a verb, describing the action of quickly browsing or skimming through the pages of a book or document. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

18%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leaf through" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of quickly browsing or skimming through a document. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely accepted and understood in English. Its register is generally neutral, and it's frequently found in news and media, as well as academic contexts. When using "leaf through", ensure you're conveying a casual perusal rather than a thorough examination. Alternatives like "skim through" or "browse through" can be used for nuanced differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glance through

Emphasizes a brief and rapid look, with less intention of thoroughness.

skim through

Suggests reading quickly to get the main points without detailed attention.

browse through

Implies a leisurely and unstructured exploration.

scan through

Focuses on searching for specific information rather than reading everything.

flip through

Highlights the action of quickly turning pages.

run through

Indicates a quick practice or review.

look over

Suggests a general inspection or review, often for errors.

peruse

Implies a careful and detailed examination, more formal than "leaf through".

thumb through

Similar to "flip through", emphasizing the physical action of using one's thumb to turn pages.

dip into

Indicates reading only small parts of a text.

FAQs

How to use "leaf through" in a sentence?

You can use "leaf through" to describe quickly browsing a book or magazine. For example, "I like to "leaf through" cookbooks for new ideas".

What's the difference between "leaf through" and "read through"?

"Leaf through" implies a quick, casual browsing, while "read through" suggests a more thorough and complete reading of the material.

Which is correct, "leaf through" or "leave through"?

"Leaf through" is the correct idiom, meaning to flip through pages. "Leave through" is not a standard English phrase and would be considered an error.

What can I say instead of "leaf through"?

You can use alternatives like "skim through", "browse through", or "glance through" depending on the context.