neatly looking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neatly looking for" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe searching in an organized or tidy manner, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "I am neatly looking for my misplaced keys on the table."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Though its "Long Goodbye" denouement ties up loose ends a bit too neatly, "Looking for Chet Baker" is thoughtful entertainment.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In a steady English rain we strolled along a wide, neatly mown path, looking for rises, much as I imagined Halford and his friends would have done in 1877.

Forbes

As we'd wandered up and down the rows of neatly planted bushes, looking for the darkest, ripest berries and dropping them into our buckets, I'd gotten lost in the zen-like, meditative quality of the pluck-n-drop, pluck-n-drop, pluck-n-drop of berry picking.

Huffington Post

Dress neatly, look professional and have ready the types of yard work you're able to do.

WikiHow

If you are looking for safe, neatly packaged laughs, then please continue reading the Onion as your only source of satire".

Vice

He soon found what he was looking for: an orange nylon driftnet neatly folded under a tarpaulin.

The Guardian

The new look consists of an empty white screen that loads blissfully quickly, even over dial-up connections, and an empty, neatly centered text box where you're supposed to type in what you're looking for.

The New York Times - Tech

The more neatly you do this, the easier it will be to find what you are looking for.

WikiHow

This works neatly: they normally look for three A-levels, while universities in Ireland typically look for six ILCs.In this section Watch your mouth Abode of Islam From mother tongue to meal ticket Cold shower Devaluation Greener than thou Sobering ReprintsBut in formalising the worth of an ILC, UCAS has re-valued the Irish currency.

The Economist

Still, Hargadon's answer does neatly summarize the virtues that Princeton looks for in at least some of its applicants — originality, self-reliance, and the kind of "diverse life experiences" that might keep the school's Tom Sawyers entertained.

The New Yorker

Look for cuts that are neatly trimmed, with firm, dark red flesh.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "neatly looking for". Instead, opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "carefully searching for" or "methodically seeking" to convey the intended meaning of an organized and thorough search.

Common error

Don't combine "neatly" directly with "looking for". While "neatly" describes order, it doesn't directly modify the action of searching. Rephrase to clarify the manner of searching, such as "searching neatly organized files."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neatly looking for" functions as a gerund phrase, attempting to describe the manner of searching. However, Ludwig AI flags it as not conveying a clear meaning in written English. The word "neatly" awkwardly modifies the action of "looking for".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "neatly looking for" is deemed grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI, suggesting it's an awkward construction. While the intention is to describe searching in an organized manner, it falls short. With limited examples primarily in news and media contexts, the phrase is rare. For clarity and correctness, it’s advisable to use alternatives such as "carefully searching for" or "methodically seeking".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

carefully searching for

Emphasizes the thoroughness and attention to detail in the search.

methodically seeking

Highlights the systematic and orderly approach to the search.

systematically searching for

Similar to 'methodically seeking', stressing the structured nature of the search.

organized search for

Focuses on the structured aspect of the search process.

tidily seeking

While less common, emphasizes a clean or orderly approach to searching.

searching with precision

Highlights accuracy and exactness in the search.

meticulously searching for

Implies a very detailed and careful search, leaving no stone unturned.

attentively looking for

Highlights the focus and awareness during the search.

searching in an orderly manner

Stresses the structured and organized nature of the search.

searching with care

Emphasizes the caution and diligence involved in the search.

FAQs

Is "neatly looking for" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "neatly looking for" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "carefully searching for" or "methodically seeking" to express a similar meaning.

What can I say instead of "neatly looking for"?

You can use alternatives like "carefully searching for", "systematically searching for", or "searching with precision" depending on the specific context.

How can I describe searching in an organized manner?

Instead of "neatly looking for", you can say "organized search for", "searching in an orderly manner", or "tidily seeking" to convey the idea of searching with structure and order.

Which is a better way to describe a thorough search, "neatly looking for" or "carefully searching for"?

"Carefully searching for" is better because it clearly and grammatically expresses the idea of a detailed and thorough search. The phrase "neatly looking for" is awkward and not commonly used.