scan briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scan briefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to look over or examine something quickly and without going into detail. Example: "Before making a decision, please scan briefly through the report to get an overview of the findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Read all emails, or scan them briefly and archive them for later browsing.

University of California, Berkeley

After scanning it briefly, Ms. Whitney, a 78-year-old African-American, signed it.

The New York Times

Prior to scanning, subjects briefly viewed the images to confirm that correct gender and expression classification could be performed.

European Journal of Neuroscience

Another change the FPF noticed is that some apps had begun to use a "short form notice," which is an easy-to read version of their privacy policy for consumers to briefly scan.

TechCrunch

The first time I picked up the Federalist Papers, I intended to scan the book briefly and then move on to more interesting pursuits.

HuffPost

Briefly, scan statistics were calculated at each geographical location to assess the number of excess STIs in the target population.

AIDS and Behavior

21, 22 Briefly, scan statistical analysis uses circular windows of varying radii that span the study region to identify areas with exposure clustering.

Hepatology

He briefly scanned the public gallery for familiar faces, avoiding eye contact with Fortuyn's two brothers, Marten and Simon, sitting just a few yards away.

The Guardian

She knew of the notice, had briefly scanned it, was intending to consider it carefully later but it was then lost when a banner was unfurled, he said.

The Guardian

"Welcome back," said the immigration official, after scanning my passport, briefly glancing at a computer screen and letting me pass — a process that took about 30 seconds.

The New York Times

"The cover letter is a business-critical document that is generally only briefly scanned, so it requires instant clarity.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scan briefly" when you want to instruct someone to get a general understanding of something without dwelling on details. For example, "Scan briefly the introduction before diving into the full report."

Common error

Avoid using "scan briefly" in highly formal documents or professional reports where a more thorough review is expected. Opt for terms like "review expeditiously" or "summarize quickly" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scan briefly" functions as a verb phrase, where "scan" is the verb indicating the action of looking over something and "briefly" is an adverb modifying the verb to specify the manner in which the action is performed. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is often used to instruct a quick review.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scan briefly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that instructs or suggests a quick and superficial examination of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is often used in scientific, news, and academic contexts. While acceptable across various settings, it's best to avoid it in highly formal documents, opting for more sophisticated alternatives like "review expeditiously". The related phrases, such as "glance at quickly" and "skim over lightly", offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glance at quickly

Emphasizes the speed and brevity of the look.

review rapidly

Focuses on a fast assessment or examination.

skim over lightly

Highlights the superficial nature of the review.

look through cursorily

Emphasizes the lack of thoroughness in the examination.

browse swiftly

Suggests a quick and informal exploration.

check over quickly

Implies a fast verification process.

peruse expeditiously

Uses more formal language to describe a rapid reading.

inspect hastily

Highlights the speed and potential lack of care in the inspection.

survey rapidly

Focuses on getting a quick overview.

run through briskly

Suggests a quick and efficient review.

FAQs

How can I use "scan briefly" in a sentence?

You can use "scan briefly" to instruct someone to quickly look over something. For example, "Please "scan briefly" the contract before signing it."

What are some alternatives to "scan briefly"?

Alternatives include "glance at quickly", "review rapidly", or "skim over lightly", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "scan briefly" in academic writing?

While acceptable, "scan briefly" might be considered informal for some academic contexts. Consider using phrases like "review expeditiously" for a more formal tone.

What does it mean to "scan briefly" a document?

To "scan briefly" a document means to quickly look through it to get a general idea of its content, without focusing on specific details.