look really closely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look really closely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to examine something with great attention to detail. Example: "If you look really closely at the painting, you will notice the artist's unique brush strokes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"If you look really closely, films have always been adapted from existing texts.

Independent

Because we are a public company we have to look really closely at portfolio management.

The Guardian - Business

It wasn't until the 18th century that people began to look really closely at them as art".

The Guardian

But! Look really closely at the photo below.

TechCrunch

It's now time to look really closely at Vendor Relationship Management (VRM).

Forbes

Plus, there's pretty much no better way to make friends than to ask strangers if you can look really closely at their skin.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

We see John Kenney in his office cubicle, listening to an iPod and looking really closely at the tip of a pencil.

The New Yorker

__ We see John Kenney in his office cubicle, listening to an iPod and looking really closely at the tip of a pencil.

The New Yorker

"We've obviously looked really closely at the financial model of 'Billy Elliot' and, we think, came up with a business model that will work better," said Mr. Ptaszynski, who noted that sales were healthy, with "Matilda" grossing $835,432 for seven performances in the week ending last Sunday.

The New York Times

We looked really closely with PCR and antibody tests, and in the end you can say nine of those 280 contacts were infected.

Science Magazine

If this evil-twin Signal looked really closely, it could probably figure out who certain users were searching for monitoring for known hashes.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience. While "look really closely" is acceptable in most contexts, more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "examine meticulously".

Common error

Avoid using "look really closely" repeatedly in a short span. Vary your language by using synonyms like "scrutinize carefully" or "observe intently" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look really closely" functions as an imperative, urging the listener or reader to pay heightened attention to visual details. Ludwig examples showcase it in instructions and descriptions, highlighting the need for careful observation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "look really closely" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the need for careful observation. Although Ludwig AI deems the phrase correct, it's more common in neutral to informal contexts, such as news articles and general instructions. When more formality is required, consider alternatives like "examine meticulously" or "scrutinize carefully". Remember to clearly define the focus of observation to provide clear guidance when prompting someone to "look really closely".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

observe intently

Focuses on the act of watching with great attention and purpose. Less about physical closeness and more about mental focus.

give close attention

Emphasizes focusing one's mental faculties on something, rather than physical proximity while observing.

scrutinize carefully

Implies a critical and detailed inspection, often looking for flaws or errors. It's more intense than "look really closely".

view attentively

Focuses on watching with purpose and engagement, emphasizing the mental effort involved.

examine meticulously

Emphasizes a thorough and detailed examination, suggesting a more formal and systematic approach than simply "looking".

inspect thoroughly

Highlights a comprehensive and detailed examination, leaving no aspect unchecked.

study in detail

Suggests a more academic or analytical approach, implying a deeper level of understanding is sought.

check meticulously

Highlights the act of verifying something with great care and precision, reducing the scope to only verification.

analyze minutely

Implies a detailed analysis, focusing on the smallest aspects of something. More technical and analytical.

pore over

Implies spending a considerable amount of time and effort examining something, often documents or texts.

FAQs

What does "look really closely" mean?

It means to examine something with great attention to detail, often to discover something not immediately obvious. It implies a need for careful observation.

What can I say instead of "look really closely"?

You can use alternatives like "examine meticulously", "scrutinize carefully", or "observe intently depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "look closely"?

While "look closely" is acceptable, adding "really" intensifies the instruction, emphasizing the importance of careful observation. It's not necessarily redundant, but its necessity depends on the context.

How formal is the phrase "look really closely"?

The phrase "look really closely" is generally considered informal to neutral. In formal contexts, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "inspect thoroughly" or "analyze minutely".