scrutinising

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "scrutinising" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this verb when you want to describe an action that involves closely examining or observing an object or situation. Example sentence: The teacher scrutinised each student's work carefully.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But as the months go by it will become increasingly difficult for Boris to blame his problems on his predecessor, and the old media should increasingly join the new in closely scrutinising his term.

The Guardian - Opinion

Graham Allen, the Labour MP in charge of scrutinising the bill, accused ministers of presenting a "dog's breakfast".

The Guardian

Scrutinising their every move was a line of journalists – some from out of town".

The Guardian

"I think too much of political journalism is thoughtlessly scrutinising," argues Mitchell.

The Guardian

Ambitious by nature, he made deputy country chief 14 years ago at the young age of 37. Known for spending more time scrutinising construction sites than sitting in his office, Geng is seemingly applying the same standard to Taiyuan, where he is overseeing sweeping infrastructural developments.

The Guardian

Tasked with holding the government to account on all matters of equality, the committee will help ensure more is being done for women and minorities by scrutinising practices in Whitehall, as well as the impact of certain legislation on society.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He gave few other details about the service but the long-anticipated move is likely to spark a fierce debate in the media industry at a time when regulators are scrutinising the biggest cable TV merger in history.

The Guardian

So when the video referee's remit began to include scrutinising tackles that lead to an injury break in play it was no real surprise that diving became a feature in the NRL.

The Guardian - Sport

Detectives first realised they had been to London with bombers Hasib Hussain and Germaine Lindsay while scrutinising the details of 4,700 phone numbers and 90,000 calls.

The Guardian

The firm's operations centre puts the Pentagon's early-warning system to shame, with banks of computers scrutinising the output of each channel, while the positions of the satellites and overall reception are tracked on three massive overhead screens.

The Economist

But they are not the died-in-the-wool warriors of anthropological legend.Dr Fry and Mr Soderberg came to this conclusion by scrutinising 21 hunter- gatherer societies from all over the world.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scrutinising" when you want to emphasize a detailed and critical examination. It's particularly effective when describing processes involving careful observation and analysis.

Common error

While "scrutinising" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "checking" or "looking at" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "scrutinising" is as a present participle or gerund form of the verb "scrutinise". It is used to describe an ongoing action of examining something closely, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scrutinising" functions as a present participle or gerund, denoting a careful and critical examination. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in neutral to professional contexts such as news, business, and science. While it's a useful term for emphasizing thorough inspection, it may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Remember to choose simpler alternatives like "checking" or "looking at" for less formal settings. The phrase appears frequently in sources like The Guardian and The Economist, highlighting its prevalence in reputable publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examining closely

Emphasizes the act of examining with a focus on detail.

inspecting carefully

Highlights the careful and thorough nature of the inspection.

investigating thoroughly

Focuses on a comprehensive investigation process.

reviewing meticulously

Implies a detailed and precise review.

analysing in detail

Stresses the detailed analysis involved.

assessing critically

Highlights a critical evaluation or assessment.

evaluating rigorously

Emphasizes the strictness and thoroughness of the evaluation.

observing attentively

Focuses on careful and attentive observation.

auditing methodically

Highlights the methodical and systematic approach to auditing.

probing deeply

Implies a thorough and penetrating investigation.

FAQs

How to use "scrutinising" in a sentence?

You can use "scrutinising" to describe the act of examining something closely and carefully. For example, "The auditor was "scrutinising" the financial records for any discrepancies."

What can I say instead of "scrutinising"?

You can use alternatives like "examining closely", "inspecting carefully", or "investigating thoroughly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "scrutinising" or "scrutinizing"?

"Scrutinising" and "scrutinizing" are both correct, but "scrutinising" is more common in British English, while "scrutinizing" is preferred in American English. The meaning remains the same.

What's the difference between "scrutinising" and "examining"?

While both words refer to looking at something carefully, ""scrutinising"" often implies a more critical and detailed inspection, seeking to uncover flaws or irregularities, whereas "examining" is a more neutral term.