scan the email

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scan the email" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the action of quickly reviewing or examining the contents of an email for important information. Example: "Before the meeting, please scan the email I sent you for the agenda and key points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Google said it does not scan the email of paying corporate customers of its G Suite of services, but it made the policy change — announced in a company blog post on Friday — on its free consumer version to eliminate confusion and create one uniform policy toward Gmail.

The New York Times - Tech

To convey the intended message, it is important that openers be able to quickly scan the email and understand what is being asked of them.

Forbes

Similar to Google's Knowledge Graph, Cortana can also scan the email on your phone and recognize items like flight schedules and other reservations.

TechCrunch

Scan the email and only respond to relevant information such as medical updates, scheduling communication and items relating to the children.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Google will no longer scan the emails of children using their services at schools around the world, after the search company permanently disabled adverts in its Apps for Education product.

The Guardian - Tech

I scanned the email quickly while my kids ate.

Los Angeles Times

It's worth noting that Google will scan both the email body and attachments for potential matches.

TechCrunch

Good tactic: If you can't think of anything good, scan through the email and look for a funny bit of language that you can use to slap in the title window.

WikiHow

Fisa Amendments Act surveillance also includes scanning the emails of Americans never even accused of a crime.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Yahoo email scanning scandal broke last October when Reuters reported that the company had built a custom scanning tool for U.S. intelligence agencies, enabling them to scan the incoming email of all users for certain selectors (aka keywords of interest) in real time.

TechCrunch

The Yahoo email scanning scandal broke last October when Reuters reported that the company had built a custom scanning tool for U.S. intelligence agencies, enabling them to scan the incoming email of all users for certain selectors (aka keywords of interest) in real time.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scan the email", ensure the context implies a quick review for key information, not a detailed analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "scan the email" when you actually mean a thorough and detailed reading. "Scan" suggests a quick overview, while "study" or "analyze" implies deeper engagement with the content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scan the email" functions as an imperative or instructional phrase, directing someone to perform a quick review of an email. Ludwig examples demonstrate this usage in various contexts, from responding to relevant information to quickly understanding a message.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Reference

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scan the email" is a grammatically sound and usable instruction to quickly review an email for key information. Ludwig AI indicates it is frequently used in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context aligns with the intention of a quick overview, rather than a detailed analysis. Consider alternatives such as "review the email" or "skim through the email" based on the level of detail required. Avoiding confusion between "scan" and more in-depth reading actions is crucial for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

review the email

A more formal and thorough examination than a quick scan.

glance at the email

Suggests a very quick and casual look.

skim through the email

Implies reading quickly, focusing on main points.

check the email

A general term for looking at the email to see its contents.

look over the email

Similar to 'review', but can also imply a less formal assessment.

read the email quickly

Specifies the speed of reading, emphasizing brevity.

peruse the email

A more formal and detailed reading than a scan.

go over the email

Suggests a careful and methodical review.

examine the email

Focuses on a detailed and critical analysis.

inspect the email

Implies looking for something specific or checking for errors.

FAQs

What does "scan the email" mean?

The phrase "scan the email" means to quickly look over an email to get a general idea of its contents without reading it in detail. It implies a brief and rapid review to identify key information or the main point.

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

You can use alternatives like "review the email", "glance at the email", or "skim through the email" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "scan through the email"?

Yes, "scan through the email" is grammatically correct and means the same as "scan the email". It implies a quick reading to grasp the main points.

What's the difference between "scan the email" and "read the email"?

While "scan the email" implies a quick overview, "read the email" suggests a more thorough and detailed reading of the entire message.