scan the comments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scan the comments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to quickly read through comments, often to gather information or opinions. Example: "Before making a decision, please scan the comments to see what others are saying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Just scan the comments for the one in all caps with no punctuation.

The New Yorker

But here we see a rare case of the opposite problem: the Arabic language, spread over more than 20 countries, has too many armies and navies.Addendum: Even more than usual, I encourage readers to scan the comments below.

The Economist

So, if you're still questing for the perfect boozer, why not pop on to the website, scan the comments for a local place with just the right mix of character, comfort and community, dust off your drinking jacket and cap, head out to that drinkers' utopia and, well, ruin it?

The Guardian

But if you were to read the letters pages of our newspapers, tune into talkback radio, or scan the comments sections of news websites, you would be mistaken for thinking there were no "moderate" Muslim-Australians prepared to repudiate domestic extremism.

The Guardian - Opinion

I admit I scan the comments section -- and I will reply if it's intelligent and appropriate.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Scanning the comments, I saw the same poorly thought-out ideas keep popping up.

Huffington Post

I scanned the comments and saw that someone had suggested it was an inappropriate time to be posting fashion pics.

Huffington Post

Now he's able to envision his photographs in a way he couldn't before, by scanning the comments for information.

Huffington Post

Worse, they say it's rare that they read something online without scanning the comments to gauge the public response before forming a personal opinion.

Los Angeles Times

It only takes a scan of the comments on her official Facebook page to see that Lagarde's wardrobe is evidence for some of a callous disregard for ordinary people feeling hard times.

BBC

Scan the readers' comments on Conservative Home, and amongst the tribal venting there are some sober, sensible-sounding objections.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "scan the comments", clarify the purpose. Are you looking for specific feedback, sentiment, or questions?

Common error

Avoid using "scan the comments" without explaining what information the reader should be looking for. Simply telling someone to "scan the comments" may lead to unfocused and inefficient review.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scan the comments" functions as an imperative instruction, directing someone to quickly review comments. Ludwig provides examples of its use in news articles and blog posts, indicating it's a common way to suggest reviewing online discussions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scan the comments" is a grammatically correct and usable instruction to quickly review a set of comments. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears in various contexts, including news articles, blogs, and online forums. While it is not extremely common, alternatives like "review the comments" or "check the comments section" may be used for similar meanings. When using "scan the comments", be sure to clarify the purpose of the review for optimal understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

review the comments

Replaces "scan" with a more general term for reading and considering the comments.

read through the comments

Emphasizes a more thorough reading of the comments.

check the comments section

Focuses on the location of the comments rather than the act of reading them.

look over the comments

Suggests a quick and casual review of the comments.

skim through the comments

Highlights a faster, less detailed reading of the comments.

peruse the comments

Implies a careful and detailed examination of the comments.

examine the comments

Suggests a more formal and in-depth analysis of the comments.

go through the comments

Focuses on the process of working through all the comments.

browse the comments

Implies a casual and undirected exploration of the comments.

survey the comments

Indicates a broad overview of the comments to get a general sense.

FAQs

How can I use "scan the comments" in a sentence?

You can use "scan the comments" to instruct someone to quickly review the comments section of a website or document. For example, "Before our meeting, please "scan the comments" to understand the customer feedback."

What does "scan the comments" mean?

"Scan the comments" means to quickly read through the comments section to get a general sense of the opinions or information contained within. It implies a less thorough reading than a detailed analysis.

What can I say instead of "scan the comments"?

You can use alternatives like "review the comments", "check the comments section", or "look over the comments" depending on the context.

Is it better to "scan the comments" or "read the comments"?

It depends on your goal. "Scan the comments" implies a quick overview, while "read the comments" suggests a more thorough and detailed reading. Choose the phrase that best reflects the level of attention required.