looked through

USAGE SUMMARY

"looked through" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used when referring to examining the content of something. For example, "He looked through the folder of documents before signing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Looking back, maybe I should have looked through the peephole.

Vice

She looked through her sights.

The New York Times - Books

How has Boyd looked through the air?

The New York Times

My mother looked through the purse herself.

The New Yorker

I looked through the spy-hole.

The New Yorker

So Cheryl looked through the classified ads.

The New York Times

They looked through the folder.

The New York Times - Health

She looked through the portfolio.

The Guardian

I looked through some guest histories.

The New York Times - Style

She looked through the window with me.

The New York Times

When Flynn looked through the data, he found something puzzling.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "looked through", ensure the context clearly indicates what was being examined, such as "looked through the documents" or "looked through the window".

Common error

Avoid replacing "through" with prepositions such as "at" or "over" after "looked". The correct phrasal verb is "looked through".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "looked through" is that of a phrasal verb. It typically acts as the main verb in a sentence, describing the act of examining something, searching for something within a collection, or viewing something from one side of an object to the other. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English and is often used to refer to examining the content of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

15%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looked through" is a versatile phrasal verb that describes the act of examining or investigating something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across different contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science sources, indicating its widespread use. While grammatically correct, it's important to consider the context and ensure that the intended meaning is accurately conveyed. Related phrases such as "examined carefully" or "reviewed meticulously" can provide more formal or nuanced alternatives. Overall, "looked through" is a valuable and frequently used term in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went over

A more informal way of saying reviewed or examined.

gone through

Implies a process of reviewing or experiencing something from start to finish.

examined carefully

Focuses on the thoroughness of the examination, highlighting the attention to detail.

reviewed meticulously

Emphasizes a detailed and systematic review process.

inspected closely

Highlights a physical or visual inspection with great attention to detail.

sifted through

Suggests carefully selecting particular items from a larger set.

combed through

Emphasizes a thorough and painstaking search.

perused rapidly

Suggests a quick and casual reading or examination.

checked out

Suggests a casual or preliminary examination.

scanned briefly

Implies a very quick overview without deep analysis.

FAQs

How can I use "looked through" in a sentence?

You can use "looked through" to describe the act of examining something, for example, "She "looked through" her notes before the presentation".

What's a more formal alternative to "looked through"?

More formal alternatives include "examined carefully" or "reviewed meticulously", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "looked over" instead of "looked through"?

While "went over" can sometimes be used as a substitute for ""looked through"", it often implies a more cursory review. "Looked through" suggests a more detailed examination.

What does "looked through" mean when referring to a person?

When someone ""looked through"" a person, it means they did not acknowledge their presence or importance, essentially ignoring them.