looking paperwork

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking paperwork" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity in meaning. Example: "I am looking for the paperwork related to the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The investigators are looking at paperwork provided to the Internal Revenue Service required on tickets that pay off at odds of more than 300-1 -- common on pick-six wagers.

The New York Times - Sports

He explains, "I'm holding a kid who's barely breathing in my arms... and I'm looking for paperwork, because I don't know if they'll treat him in a hospital without it.

Huffington Post

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Vice

The only cloud is a bad report from the Quality Assurance Agency – which has the power to recommend Buckingham lose its royal charter – but Kealey says the agency never went into classrooms, and just looked at paperwork and committee minutes.

The Guardian

Many have mental health problems, and complain about the dwindling support they've been given, or how they used to have a carer who would look at paperwork for them, but now their time is down to 15 minutes a visit, and their carer makes sure they've eaten, collected their prescriptions and that the doors and windows are locked, then leaves.

The Guardian

Start with the filing system of that person, move on to boxes in the garage or attic, and also look in paperwork in stacks around the house.

WikiHow

They are looking into whether paperwork and legal procedures were handled properly.

The New York Times

That may sound as easy as looking at the paperwork from 12 years ago, when I bought the stock.

The New York Times

I start at the hospital, looking through the paperwork of those women who have been discharged in the last 24 hours.

The Guardian

All of which are useless if a person can't direct his own care, or if family members are at odds, or they are rummaging through drawers and files looking for the paperwork while the ER staff stands by.

The New York Times

It gets scanned locally and then goes to a place like Perot where they have people looking at the paperwork the doctor filled out.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more precise verbs like "reviewing", "examining", or "processing" with the noun "paperwork" or "documents" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "looking" directly before "paperwork" without a preposition like "at" or "for". Instead of "looking paperwork", use "looking at paperwork" or "looking for paperwork" for grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking paperwork" functions as a verb followed directly by a noun, which is grammatically incomplete. As noted by Ludwig AI, it requires a preposition to connect the verb and noun correctly (e.g., "looking at paperwork" or "looking for paperwork").

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looking paperwork" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, it requires a preposition such as "at" or "for" to be grammatically sound. More appropriate alternatives include "reviewing documents", "examining paperwork", or "handling paperwork", depending on the intended meaning. Using grammatically correct and precise language enhances clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examining paperwork

Substitutes 'looking' with the synonym 'examining', keeping 'paperwork' unchanged.

reviewing documents

Replaces 'looking' with the more formal 'reviewing' and 'paperwork' with 'documents'.

going through documents

Replaces 'looking' with a more descriptive verb phrase, while 'paperwork' is now 'documents'.

handling paperwork

Emphasizes the task of managing and dealing with paperwork.

processing documents

Focuses on the action of handling or dealing with the documents.

checking documentation

Suggests verifying the correctness and completeness of the paperwork.

inspecting the forms

Implies a detailed examination of specific forms.

scrutinizing paperwork

Implies a very careful and critical examination of the documents.

searching for paperwork

Implies actively seeking specific documents.

perusing documents

Suggests a casual, less detailed look at the documents.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "looking paperwork"?

Correct alternatives include "looking at paperwork" or "looking for paperwork", depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "reviewing documents" instead of "looking paperwork"?

Use "reviewing documents" when you want to express a more formal examination or assessment of the paperwork.

Is "examining paperwork" a better phrase to use than "looking paperwork"?

Yes, "examining paperwork" is a more precise and grammatically sound way to describe carefully inspecting documents.

What does "handling paperwork" mean and when should I use it instead of "looking paperwork"?

"Handling paperwork" means managing or dealing with documents. Use it when the context involves processing or managing paperwork rather than simply looking at it.