look at prospects

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look at prospects" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential opportunities, candidates, or future possibilities in various contexts, such as business or personal development. Example: "As we plan for the next quarter, we need to look at prospects for new clients to expand our market reach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Richard Cordray, the agency's director, has said that consumers who have medical collections reported on their credit file can face a harder time getting a loan — or even a job, since some employers now look at prospects' credit reports.

The New York Times

On a more hopeful front we look at prospects for lasting peace in South Sudan, and how Moscow's restaurants have creatively raised their game despite being under an EU goods embargo.

The Guardian

Two recently published studies look at prospects for the labor market and come to rather different conclusions.

Science Magazine

For more examples of assessment centre programmes and advice on preparation, I'd suggest you look at Prospects and the University of Edinburgh Careers Service; both have produced excellent guides.

Science Magazine

In September, five years after the E-170 was first introduced, it delivered its 600th E-jet and marked the occasion with a long, hard look at prospects for the family.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Veterans are trying to learn a new system, coaches are looking at prospects.

The New York Times - Sports

The Big Board is also looking at prospects in fixed income (eg, convertible bonds) and derivatives, perhaps based on listed companies.When if the matter of growth strategies is sorted out, governance questions will loom.

The Economist

The Nets had been looking at prospects including the Stanford shooting guard Casey Jacobsen, taken with the No. 22 pick by Phoenix; Juan Dixon, taken No. 17; and Jiri Welsch, taken with the No. 16 pick by Philadelphia and traded to Golden State.

The New York Times - Sports

Re "Smoothing the Way to Self-Employment" (Under New Management, Feb. 22), which looked at prospects for striking out on one's own in today's economic climate: There is another consideration in making such a move: health insurance.

The New York Times

Drawing on these perspectives, our study documents the relative progress made toward reaching equitable levels of socio-economic development among Indigenous citizens in Australia, Canada and New Zealand from 1981 2006, and looks at prospects for closing gaps in social determinants of health with non-Indigenous citizens in the coming 25 years.

BMC Public Health

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty told CBS' Face the Nation that he "encouraged" the Republican presidential candidate's campaign to "look at other prospects".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "look at prospects", ensure the context is clear. Specify whether you're referring to potential candidates, opportunities, or future possibilities to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "look at prospects" in contexts where a more specific verb would be more precise. For instance, instead of saying "We need to look at prospects for improving sales", consider "We need to analyze strategies for improving sales" for greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look at prospects" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence. It indicates an action of evaluating or considering potential future possibilities, candidates, or opportunities. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "look at prospects" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of evaluating potential opportunities, candidates, or future possibilities. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, though it appears more frequently in news and media sources. While its frequency is relatively rare, the phrase is considered acceptable and useful for conveying the intention to assess future outcomes. Remember to provide context to avoid ambiguity and consider more specific verbs for greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consider possible candidates

Emphasizes the act of considering, which is a more general term than 'looking at'.

evaluate potential candidates

Focuses specifically on assessing candidates, removing the broader sense of 'prospects'.

assess future opportunities

Shifts the focus to evaluating opportunities rather than potential individuals or elements.

review promising applicants

Highlights the process of reviewing, especially in an application context.

examine potential clients

Narrows the scope to evaluating potential clients in a business context.

deliberate over potential options

Highlights the careful consideration of various options.

investigate future possibilities

Implies a more in-depth exploration of future possibilities.

analyze emerging opportunities

Emphasizes analysis, bringing a more structured approach to evaluating opportunities.

scrutinize prospective hires

Suggests a detailed and critical examination of potential employees.

explore potential avenues

Focuses on exploring different paths or strategies rather than specific individuals or elements.

FAQs

What does "look at prospects" mean?

The phrase "look at prospects" means to evaluate or consider potential opportunities, candidates, or future possibilities in a particular context.

What can I say instead of "look at prospects"?

You can use alternatives like "evaluate potential candidates", "assess future opportunities", or "consider possible candidates" depending on the context.

How do I use "look at prospects" in a sentence?

You can use "look at prospects" in a sentence like this: "Before making a decision, it's important to "look at prospects" from all angles." or "The team will "look at prospects" for expansion in the Asian market."

Is "look at prospects" formal or informal?

The phrase "look at prospects" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in highly professional settings.