scroll by

USAGE SUMMARY

"scroll by" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to content that moves past the viewer's screen, typically in a digital context. Example: "As I was reading, I noticed a post that caught my eye as it scrolled by." Alternative expressions include "pass by" and "move past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

ON THE ROAD: The Original Scroll, by Jack Kerouac.

The New York Times - Books

Gautam Malkani On the Road: The Original Scroll, by Jack Kerouac (Penguin Classics).

The Guardian - Books

Her youngest son, Hasked, sat near the bow and watched the banks scroll by.

The New Yorker

A television advertisement includes him performing a craniotomy as Michigan fight song lyrics scroll by.

The New York Times

Some were on their cellphones and others watched the ticker scroll by.

The New York Times

As the predictable names scroll by on Twitter – there's nothing gaspworthy, nothing revelatory – I'm stifling a yawn.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Pop political art and photographs of bloodied young men scroll by — part media installation, part war-crimes documentary.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

NeoWize analyzes browsing behavior like clicks, hovers, and scroll-bys to instantly personalize the items people see.

TechCrunch

Manhattan scrolls by quickly.

The New York Times

On a monitor, news of the weather scrolled by.

The New Yorker

Behind them a backdrop painted in wintry grays and whites scrolls by.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In artistic contexts, use "scroll by" followed by an artist's name to indicate the creator of a physical scroll, as seen in many art history references.

Common error

Avoid using "scroll by" when the user is actively searching through a document; in that case, "scroll through" is more accurate as it implies active engagement rather than just observing movement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scroll by" primarily functions as a phrasal verb in digital contexts, where 'by' acts as a particle indicating movement past a point. However, Ludwig also shows a secondary structure where 'scroll' is a noun and 'by' introduces an agent of creation, typically in art history (e.g., 'a hanging scroll by Wu Li'). According to Ludwig AI, the phrasal verb form is highly prevalent in modern tech journalism.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Social Media

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "scroll by" is a versatile phrase with two distinct lives. Most commonly in modern English, as seen in the vast majority of Ludwig examples, it describes the passive visual flow of information on digital screens, from Twitter feeds to stock tickers. It highlights the speed and volume of information in the digital age. Simultaneously, it remains a standard term in the art world to attribute historical works on paper or silk. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and highly usable phrase that bridges the gap between ancient art forms and cutting-edge digital interfaces.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass by

A more general term for something moving past a viewer without specific reference to a screen interface.

glide past

Suggests a smoother, more elegant motion than the mechanical or digital nature of scrolling.

move across

Focuses on the horizontal or vertical transit across the visual field.

swipe past

Specifically refers to the user-driven touch interaction common on mobile devices.

stream by

Implies a continuous, rapid flow of information or objects, common in live data feeds.

roll by

Often used for physical objects like cars or clouds, or for credits on a screen.

drift past

Suggests a slower, perhaps more aimless or passive movement.

flick past

Highlights a very quick movement, usually controlled by a rapid finger gesture.

flow by

Emphasizes the fluid nature of the movement, often used for text or visual elements.

sweep past

Indicates a wide or grand motion, often with more speed or force.

FAQs

How to use "scroll by" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe digital content moving past you, such as "I watched the credits "scroll by" at the end of the film."

What is the difference between "scroll by" and "scroll through"?

While "scroll by" focuses on the visual movement of the items passing the viewer, "scroll through" emphasizes the user's action of navigating inside a document or feed.

Can I use "pass by" instead of "scroll by"?

Yes, you can use "pass by" in most general contexts, but "scroll by" is more specific to screens or physical scrolls.

Is "scroll by" formal enough for business writing?

It is considered a neutral term. For a more formal tone, you might prefer "observe as it transverses" or simply "view the sequence", though "scroll by" is perfectly acceptable in tech-related business contexts.