look up for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look up for" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "look up" or "look for," depending on the intended meaning. Example: "I need to look up the definition of this word."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

His players did not look up for it.

Independent

But things soon look up for the tortured genius.

The Economist

And look up for golden and white-tailed eagles.

Independent

Eventually, things began to look up for Juvenal.

The Guardian

Hazard really does look up for this today.

The Guardian - Sport

Soon, however, life started to look up for both mother and daughter.

The New York Times

TEN days ago, things were starting to look up for the Democrats.

The Economist

I began to read and, it now seems, didn't look up for several years.

The New Yorker

Whose number the Jenny Consultant would be happy to look up for her.

The New Yorker

We look up for a moment and survey the towering trees surrounding the family's yard.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

8 30 p.m. [Free. Just look up.] For more events, see The New York Times Arts & Entertainment guide.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you intend to express the meaning of 'things are improving' use "look up" without the "for". For example, you could say "things are looking up".

Common error

The most common mistake is using "look up for" when either "look up" or "look for" is grammatically correct and sufficient. Using both prepositions together is redundant and considered incorrect in standard English.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look up for" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, though its grammatical correctness is debated. Examples from Ludwig show it used in contexts where either "look up" or "look for" would be more appropriate. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "look up for" appears frequently across diverse sources according to Ludwig, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct alternatives are either "look up" or "look for", depending on the context. It's best practice to avoid using "look up for" in formal writing and opt for the grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and precision. When you are referring to a positive change, you should use "look up" without adding a "for" at the end.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look up

Omits the preposition "for", resulting in a grammatically correct phrasal verb with meanings like searching or improving.

look for

Replaces "up for" with "for", creating a grammatically sound phrase that means to seek or search for something.

search for

Substitutes "look up" with the synonym "search", keeping "for" to indicate seeking something.

seek

A more formal synonym for "look for", implying a deliberate effort to find something.

try to find

Expresses the action of attempting to locate something, similar to "look for".

attempt to locate

A more formal alternative meaning to try and find something or somebody.

start to improve

This relates to instances where "look up for" suggests a positive change or improvement.

things are improving

Similar to 'start to improve' implying a positive change.

become more promising

Expresses the idea that a situation is showing signs of improvement.

begin to get better

A simple and direct way of saying that something is starting to improve.

FAQs

Is "look up for" grammatically correct?

No, "look up for" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrases are either /s/look+up, meaning to search for information, or /s/look+for, meaning to seek something.

When can I use "look up"?

Use /s/look+up when you want to find information in a reference material, like a dictionary or online. For example, "I need to look up the definition of this word."

What's the difference between "look up" and "look for"?

"Look up" means to find information, while /s/look+for means to search for something. For instance, "look up the address" vs. "look for the address". In the second case, you are seeking something that may or may not be there.

What are some alternatives to saying "things are looking up"?

You can use alternatives like "things are improving", "things are getting better", or "the situation is /s/becoming+more+promising".