scanned

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "scanned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you have looked at something quickly or that something has been digitally photographed. Example sentence: I quickly scanned the room to look for my lost keys.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Chris Martin has said its lyrics were about the mood of the band – brightness and hope – but he's also admitted that he used the actual word yellow simply because it scanned.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When the subject arrived, Jane engaged in light banter, a kind of verbal screen which hid her as she scanned the face in front of her.

The Guardian - Arts

That year, Lindsey scanned Craigslist for carer work, but nobody replied to her applications.

The Guardian - Tech

McGee also predicted this technology trend would have serious implications in the image and ageing obsessed world of Hollywood, with it already increasingly common for actors to have their faces and bodies scanned while they are still young to "cryogenically preserve the digital image of their youth in case they are able to sell or lease it in the future".

The Guardian

One had a bomb strapped to her body that detonated as she was being scanned at the entrance gate, he said.

The Guardian

The opposition, however, has dismissed the TBLs and called for a return of the scrapped banned drinker register, under which all IDs were scanned and service refused to registered problem drinkers.

The Guardian

The non-appearance of a promised digital printer, for instance, meant that work had to be scanned in Marrakech, emailed to a lab in London to be printed overnight, and then the prints sent back to Marrakech on a plane.

The Guardian - Arts

He was wearing shades as he scanned the hills.

The New York Times

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs in a potentially billion dollar antitrust class-action lawsuit against Apple for abuse of its iTunes Music Store dominance told the jury that the Californian electronics company scanned for music not bought from iTunes, and forced a factory reset of the iPod if any was detected.

The Guardian - Tech

Anxious, Hank quickly scanned her replies, but there was nothing much – just the odd congratulation from a few of her 9,209 followers for the way she'd "educated" the men behind her.

The Guardian - Tech

It is infrequently scanned to Chiron".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to digital conversion, specify the type of document or image being "scanned" for clarity. For example, "documents scanned into PDF format".

Common error

Avoid using "scanned" when you mean a very quick, superficial look at something. "Scanned" can imply a more thorough, albeit fast, process than simply "skimmed".

Linguistic Context

The word "scanned" functions primarily as the past participle of the verb "scan", often used to describe an object or document that has undergone the process of being scanned. It can also function as an adjective describing something that has been converted into digital format. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "scanned" is a versatile term, functioning as both a past participle and an adjective, primarily indicating a quick visual examination or conversion into digital format. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. Its prevalence across news, business, and scientific contexts underscores its broad applicability. While synonyms like "digitized" and "reviewed" offer alternatives, "scanned" maintains its unique nuance. Remember to clarify the type of document or image being "scanned" for optimal clarity. Also, be mindful of its distinction from "skimmed". The comprehensive analysis reveals "scanned" as an important word for every writer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

digitized

Refers specifically to converting something into a digital format, similar to one sense of "scanned".

converted to digital

Directly relates to the digital conversion aspect of scanning.

digitally captured

Specifically means something has been converted into digital format, sharing an aspect with "scanned".

reviewed

Implies a careful examination, akin to scanning for specific information or details.

examined

Suggests a thorough inspection, similar to scanning with a specific purpose.

surveyed

Indicates a broad overview or assessment, much like scanning a landscape or document.

skimmed

Denotes a quick, superficial reading, similar to scanning for main points.

glanced over

Indicates a brief look, similar to scanning something superficially.

read quickly

Implies a fast reading pace, similar to quickly scanning a text.

ran through

Suggests a quick pass or review of something, akin to scanning it.

FAQs

How can I use "scanned" in a sentence?

You can use "scanned" to describe the action of looking over something quickly, as in "I "scanned" the document for errors". It also describes the act of converting something into a digital format, like "The old photos were "scanned" and saved on the computer".

What can I say instead of "scanned" when referring to digital conversion?

Alternatives include "digitized", "converted to digital", or "digitally captured". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the document is scanned" or "the document was scanned"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "The document is "scanned"" suggests it's currently in a digital format. "The document was "scanned"" implies the action of scanning happened in the past.

What's the difference between "scanned" and "skimmed"?

"Scanned" implies a quicker, more focused search for specific information, while "skimmed" suggests a very brief overview of the content. If you "skimmed" a report, you got the general idea, but if you "scanned" it, you looked for particular details.