looks looking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks looking" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It does not convey a clear meaning and is not usable in any context. Example: "The way he looks looking at the painting is intriguing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We do try to get a sense of how it looks, looking at long-term trends.

Forbes

Finish your routine with a good lip balm that will trap moisture inside to keep your looks looking shiny and healthy.

WikiHow

Where her subjects look, how they look, what their looking looks like.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It looks, looks...," she struggled for the right word.

The New York Times

De Jong emphasized that for table stock potatoes, the three top traits continue to be, "looks, looks, and looks".

Cornell University

I was looking, looking, looking.

The Guardian

Everyone is looking, looking, looking.

The Guardian - Film

Six months went by, looking, looking, looking.

The New York Times

"We've been looking, looking, looking," Bill, Jr., told me.

The New Yorker

Steve (29): (Describing a gym) Some guys are just looking looking looking in the mirror … Ross (29): (Interrupts) No you see I agree with you.

Critical Public Health

In the language subtest, she could speak more than 11 words in 60 seconds but the all of the words began with the same sound with a different suffix, for example, like, liked, likely, look, looked, looking.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "looks looking" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "appears to be looking" or "seems to be watching".

Common error

Do not combine forms of "look" in this way. It often leads to redundancy and makes your sentence sound awkward. Instead of saying "the scene looks looking beautiful", say "the scene looks beautiful" or "the scene appears beautiful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks looking" functions as a gerund phrase, though its usage is considered non-standard. Ludwig AI indicates that it does not follow standard grammatical rules and may sound awkward. Examples found by Ludwig show this phrase in contexts where a more precise verb construction would be preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

34%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looks looking" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and stylistically awkward. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it may occasionally appear in informal contexts, it is not recommended for formal writing. Instead, clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "appears to be looking" or "seems to be watching" are preferred. Its usage across various sources is infrequent, and it's best to avoid this phrase to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears to be looking

This alternative uses a more standard verb construction to convey the impression someone is in the act of looking.

seems to be gazing

This phrase substitutes "looks" with "seems" and "looking" with "gazing" to imply a softer, more contemplative observation.

has the appearance of looking

This option emphasizes the outward impression of someone who is observing something.

gives the impression of observing

Focuses on the impression created by someone's act of observation rather than their direct action.

is seemingly watching

Replaces "looks" with "is seemingly" and "looking" with "watching" to denote that the observation is apparent.

appears to be observing

A more formal way of saying someone is in the process of watching something attentively.

gives the semblance of looking

Highlights that someone is providing an outward show of looking.

is perceived as watching

Emphasizes how an action is being received or interpreted.

appears as if watching

This construction suggests a speculative observation, using "appears as if" to modify the action of watching.

seems like it's watching

Informal alternative that suggests something resembles the act of watching.

FAQs

Is "looks looking" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "looks looking" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and stylistically awkward in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "appears to be looking" or "seems to be watching".

What can I say instead of "looks looking"?

You can use alternatives like "appears to be looking" or "seems to be watching" to express a similar idea in a grammatically correct way.

When is it appropriate to use "looks looking"?

The phrase "looks looking" is rarely appropriate in formal writing. It may occasionally appear in informal contexts or creative writing, but it is generally best to avoid it in favor of clearer alternatives.

Why is "looks looking" considered incorrect?

The construction "looks looking" is redundant because both words convey a similar sense of appearance or observation. Standard English prefers a more concise and grammatically sound construction, such as "appears to be looking" or "seems to be watching".