look beyond

USAGE SUMMARY

"look beyond" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that a person should consider options or alternatives (or think further) on a particular topic. For example: "When researching university courses, it is important to look beyond the entry requirements and explore the other opportunities the course can offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Always look beyond hashtags.

HuffPost

Look Beyond Your Own Graduate Program!

University of California, Berkeley

Look beyond them.

The Guardian - Opinion

But look beyond that.

The New York Times - Sports

Look beyond account management.

The Guardian

Look beyond the obvious.

Harvard Business Review

Look beyond technology itself.

Harvard Business Review

"S.M.U. was willing to look beyond it".

The New York Times

"I was willing to look beyond that.

The New York Times

He may even look beyond ballads.

The Guardian - Music

You have to look beyond the record.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "look beyond" to encourage a broader perspective, especially when initial impressions might be misleading.

Common error

Avoid using "look beyond" when a simpler term like "consider" or "think about" would suffice. Using it in overly simple scenarios dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look beyond" functions as a phrasal verb, urging the audience to consider something more comprehensively, often surpassing superficial or immediate aspects. As Ludwig demonstrates, it's commonly employed to encourage deeper evaluation and understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

21%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

9%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "look beyond" is a versatile and commonly used phrasal verb that encourages a more comprehensive and insightful perspective. As evidenced by Ludwig's examples, it appears frequently in news, academic, and business contexts. The phrase is considered grammatically correct and serves to persuade or advise the audience to consider aspects that may not be immediately apparent. Keep in mind while using "look beyond" is versatile, be careful with the usage in simple scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consider further

Emphasizes deeper thought and analysis of the situation.

think outside the box

Suggests a more creative and unconventional approach.

go beyond the surface

Focuses on understanding the underlying or hidden aspects.

see the bigger picture

Highlights the importance of understanding the overall context.

take a wider view

Suggests a more comprehensive or inclusive perspective.

delve deeper

Implies a more thorough investigation or exploration.

extend your perspective

Focuses on broadening one's viewpoint or understanding.

transcend limitations

Suggests moving past current constraints or boundaries.

overlook shortcomings

Implies ignoring or accepting flaws to see potential.

don't fixate on

Advises against focusing too much on a specific detail.

FAQs

How can I use "look beyond" in a sentence?

Use "look beyond" to suggest considering aspects that are not immediately obvious. For example, "When evaluating job offers, "look beyond" the salary and consider the benefits and growth opportunities."

What are some alternatives to "look beyond"?

You can use alternatives like "consider further", "think outside the box", or "see the bigger picture" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "look beyond" or "see beyond"?

"Look beyond" implies a more active effort to consider something in its entirety, while "see beyond" suggests a clearer understanding of something not easily perceived. The choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

What's the difference between "look beyond" and "overlook"?

"Look beyond" means to consider something more deeply or broadly, while "overlook" means to fail to notice something. They have opposite meanings.