scan back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scan back and forth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of looking or moving one's gaze repeatedly between two points or areas. Example: "As I searched for the lost item, I began to scan back and forth across the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Meanwhile, muscles attached outside your eyes are working to keep both of them focused on the same point and are enabling your eyes to scan back and forth across the page in a coordinated manner.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And by the time I'd finished a session, my eyes were exhausted from rapidly scanning back and forth, eyeing attackers, searching for time crystals and trying to find ammunition.

The New York Times

"They think all they need to do is look straight ahead, but they don't realize the need to be scanning back and forth so they always know where their car is in space".

The New York Times

The knowhow currently exists to allow doctors to supervise operations from thousands of miles away, to send X-rays and CAT scans back and forth electronically, and to keep both themselves and their patients abreast of the latest medical discoveries via the Internet.

The Economist

Dr. Paniccia worked for a number of years in its testing division, where a small group of engineers built a machine that scanned a laser beam over the back surface of a computer chip, much the way a cathode ray tube is scanned back and forth to create a television image.

The New York Times

Although I couldn't explain exactly how I knew, after scanning back and forth for a few seconds I was pretty sure that the ball was on the left and the banana was on the right, and I reached out to double-check.

The New Yorker

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Vice

The position of the "hot spots" is highly reproducible when scanning back and forth the same fiber.

Biomedical Optics Express

Begin slowly walking in a straight line along the edge of the water, scanning back and forth in front of you as you go.

WikiHow

As thousands of cantilevers scan repeatedly back and forth across the medium surface, the tip and sample wear become more evident than other storage devices, thus exacerbating the lifetime of the thermo-mechanical probe device as well as the resulting density.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It allows readers to scan a text back and forth and to study, compare, and interpret at their leisure.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a visual search, use "scan back and forth" to convey a deliberate and methodical examination of an area.

Common error

Avoid using "scan back and forth" when a simpler term like "look around" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scan back and forth" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe a deliberate and methodical action of moving one's gaze or a device repeatedly between two points. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scan back and forth" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe a methodical searching action, often visual or mechanical. Ludwig's analysis, and the numerous examples provided, confirm its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across various contexts, including News & Media and Scientific publications. The phrase serves the purpose of describing a repeated, directional movement, and while generally neutral, its frequency indicates its common usage in both formal and informal settings. When writing, remember to consider the specific context and audience to ensure the phrase's appropriateness and avoid overuse when simpler alternatives like "look around" would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sweep back and forth

This is a similar phrase, but "sweep" often implies a broader or faster motion than "scan".

pan from left to right

This is specific to visual scanning, similar to camera movement.

look from side to side

Focuses specifically on visual scanning.

shift from side to side

This is a more general description of lateral movement.

sweep to and fro

This implies a broader, more sweeping motion compared to a focused scan.

move to and fro

A more generic term describing movement in both directions.

move reciprocally

This term is more formal and abstract, referring to movement in alternating directions.

traverse repeatedly

This indicates moving across an area multiple times, rather than a focused scanning motion.

oscillate

This suggests a regular, rhythmic movement, often used in scientific or technical contexts.

swing alternately

This suggests a swinging motion from one side to another.

FAQs

How can I use "scan back and forth" in a sentence?

You can use "scan back and forth" to describe a visual search, like "I had to scan back and forth across the document to find the error" or to describe the motion of a machine, like "The laser scans back and forth to create the image".

What is a synonym for "scan back and forth"?

Alternatives include "look from side to side", "sweep back and forth", or "pan from left to right", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "scan back and forth" or "scanned back and forth"?

The choice depends on the tense of your sentence. Use "scan back and forth" for present tense and "scanned back and forth" for past tense.

What's the difference between "scan back and forth" and "look around"?

"Scan back and forth" implies a more methodical and focused examination compared to "look around", which is a more general way of searching an area.