looking more closely

USAGE SUMMARY

"looking more closely" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you wish to point out that a particular situation requires more scrutiny or further examination. For example, you could say, "Upon looking more closely at the facts, it became apparent that I had made the wrong decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"And," he continued, looking more closely, "it's a cat".

The New York Times

In addition, prospective hires are also looking more closely at firms' books.

The New York Times

"I needed to reconfirm that by looking more closely at myself".

The New York Times - Arts

Meanwhile, Girardi said he would start looking more closely at Johnson over the next few games.

The New York Times - Sports

All the economists agreed that regulators should have been looking more closely at Fannie and Freddie.

The New York Times

Now, however, it may be time to spend time looking more closely at the natural explanation.

The Guardian

Furthermore, the government is looking more closely at the workings of nonprofit credit counselors.

The New York Times

But in the 1990s, psychiatrists began looking more closely for symptoms in younger patients.

The New York Times - Health

So I started looking more closely at some of the other organic items in the store.

The New York Times - Magazine

So far this time, male swing voters seem to be looking more closely at the Democrats.

The New York Times

By looking back, and looking more closely, he has found a way to move forward.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "looking more closely", ensure the context provides a clear indication of what is being examined or considered in greater detail.

Common error

Avoid using "looking more closely" without specifying the subject of the examination. Vague references can lead to ambiguity and weaken the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking more closely" functions as a gerund phrase, often introducing a clause that explains the results of a more detailed observation or analysis. As confirmed by Ludwig, it signifies the act of examining something with greater attention.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looking more closely" is a versatile gerund phrase used to emphasize the importance of a detailed examination. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and broad applicability across diverse contexts such as news, science, and academia. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources, highlighting its role in detailed reporting and analysis. For variety, consider alternatives like "taking a closer look" or "examining in greater detail", but ensure the context clearly specifies the subject of scrutiny to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking a closer look

Offers a slightly more informal alternative with similar meaning.

examining in greater detail

Emphasizes a more thorough and analytical approach to observation.

scrutinizing with precision

Suggests a meticulous and exact observation.

investigating thoroughly

Highlights a comprehensive and deep inquiry.

analyzing meticulously

Focuses on a careful and detailed analysis.

inspecting with attention to detail

Stresses the importance of detail-oriented observation.

considering in depth

Highlights thorough consideration rather than visual inspection.

assessing comprehensively

Focuses on a complete and thorough evaluation.

delving deeper into

Suggests a more profound and penetrating exploration.

exploring in detail

Emphasizes a detailed and exploratory approach.

FAQs

How can I use "looking more closely" in a sentence?

You can use "looking more closely" to indicate a detailed examination, such as "Looking more closely at the data reveals a different trend."

What is a simple alternative to "looking more closely"?

A simple alternative is "taking a closer look", which conveys a similar meaning of examining something in more detail.

When is it appropriate to use "looking more closely"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the need for a thorough or detailed examination of a subject or situation, often after an initial overview.

What phrases are similar to "looking more closely"?

Similar phrases include "examining in greater detail", "investigating thoroughly", and "analyzing meticulously", all suggesting careful and in-depth analysis.