look it over

USAGE SUMMARY

'look it over' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest to someone that they should carefully read or examine something. For example: "Can you take a look at this report and look it over before we submit it to the client?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Look it over, make double sure you've got all its parts, then pack it away.

WikiHow

Look it over".

The New Yorker

And then I'd go back the next day, look it over and continue.

University of California, Berkeley

Could he look it over and see if he can help them?

The New Yorker

In a marketplace you can find what you want, look it over, and buy it.

Forbes

You should always run spell-check and maybe have a couple of your friends look it over too.

Forbes

"I had 24 hours to look it over before signing it, and thus my case against Squarespace dissolved".

TechCrunch

That you didn't look it over very carefully, in fact, you didn't look it over at all.

Huffington Post

And he'd look it over, say "Yeah, okay, this is good.

Huffington Post

Look it over and when you're done looking it over, look it over again.

WikiHow

Look it over, it may help you with these issues.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality. While "look it over" is generally acceptable, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "examine" or "review".

Common error

Avoid using "look it over" when the 'it' hasn't been clearly defined. This can confuse readers. Instead, explicitly mention what needs to be reviewed or examined.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "look it over" functions primarily as an imperative, urging someone to examine or review something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, supported by numerous examples across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

36%

News & Media

35%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "look it over" is a common and correct phrasal verb used to suggest or request that someone carefully examine something. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its broad usability across various contexts. While generally acceptable, it's important to consider the formality of the situation and choose alternative phrasing when needed. Best practices include ensuring a clear referent for 'it' and adjusting the tone for professional settings. Consider alternatives like "examine it closely" or "review it thoroughly" for increased formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go over it

Similar meaning, but with a slight difference in emphasis on covering all aspects.

examine it closely

Emphasizes a detailed and careful inspection.

review it thoroughly

Highlights the act of a comprehensive and complete evaluation.

inspect it carefully

Focuses on a cautious and attentive examination.

peruse it

Implies a casual yet attentive reading or examination.

give it a once-over

Suggests a quick, less detailed review.

scrutinize it

Suggests a very detailed and critical examination.

assess it

Focuses on evaluating its quality or value.

check it out

An informal way of saying "look at it".

evaluate it

Emphasizes judging its merit or significance.

FAQs

How can I use "look it over" in a sentence?

You can use "look it over" when you want someone to review or examine something. For example, "Could you please look it over and let me know your thoughts?"

What's a more formal way to say "look it over"?

For more formal situations, consider using alternatives like "examine it closely", "review it thoroughly", or "inspect it carefully".

Is it okay to use "look it over" in professional writing?

While acceptable, "look it over" is generally considered informal. Opt for more professional alternatives such as "review it thoroughly" in business or academic contexts.

What does "look it over" mean?

"Look it over" means to carefully examine or review something, often to find errors or assess its quality. It's similar to saying "check it out" or "go over it".