skim

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'skim' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb meaning to read quickly and cursorily, or as a noun meaning a thin layer of liquid. Example sentence: I skimmed the article in the newspaper and found the information I was looking for.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Do a quick skim through to gauge the feel of the overall test.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This dynamic one-day course provides you with a toolkit of different speed reading techniques to suit different purposes, whether you need to skim an article for a quick overview, or understand all the key points of a heavyweight report.

The Guardian

Half-cover with cold water and bring to the boil, then turn down the heat, skim and cook very gently for an hour and a half.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Reduce excess liquid and skim off fat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But with $100 worth of hobbyist gear, Israeli researchers managed to skim encrypted data off e-passports from several feet away.

The Economist

When the plague reappeared in Britain and on the continent in the 1660s, European countries used tit-for-tat quarantines to keep out competitors, skim fees from merchants, reassure trading partners and punish those who quarantined them.Mr Harrison follows the loosening of quarantines as the tides of free trade rose in the mid-19th century.

The Economist

These all fly close to the speed of sound for up to about 200km (124 miles) using precision-guidance systems to skim over land or water.

The Economist

The idea is that as traders buy and sell shares in competing content, the cream will float to the top where entertainment-industry bosses can skim it off.

The Economist

If they refuse to pay? "We may insist, we may use violence, to be honest, or, very occasionally, some kidnapping .The militants also skim money off government contracts, especially road-building.

The Economist

On one such site, monitored by the Customs Service, some 3.2m images of sexually exploited children were downloaded in one month in 1999.The ubiquity of computers and the difficulty of developing "filters" that skim off offensive material without restricting access to the useful sort make web-policing a formidable job.

The Economist

This practice, dubbed "market timing", imposes trading costs on all investors in the fund, but allows a privileged few to skim off a quick profit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When time is limited, "skim" strategically by focusing on headings, subheadings, and the first sentence of each paragraph to grasp the main points efficiently.

Common error

Avoid using "skim" when you actually mean "scan". "Skimming" implies a very quick and superficial reading, while "scanning" suggests looking for specific information within a text.

Linguistic Context

The word "skim" functions primarily as a verb, indicating the action of reading superficially or removing a surface layer. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, from quickly reviewing text to removing substances from liquids.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "skim" is a versatile verb used to describe either quickly reviewing content or removing substances from a liquid's surface. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically sound and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While efficient, it's important to distinguish "skim" from similar words like "scan" and to consider the context for appropriate usage. For comprehensive analysis, carefully consider its communicative purpose and the intended level of detail.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skim over the surface

Highlights the surface-level interaction or observation.

scan quickly

Focuses on the speed and the act of briefly examining something.

read cursorily

Emphasizes the lack of deep engagement with the material.

glance through

Highlights a brief and cursory examination of something.

browse rapidly

Emphasizes speed and casual reading or looking.

surface reading

Implies an attention limited to just the outer layers.

cream off

Specifically means to remove the best part of something or to obtain illicit profit.

scrape away

Focuses on the act of removing a layer from a surface.

sweep over

Implies a broad and cursory look over an area or subject.

pass over lightly

Suggests a gentle or quick handling or reading of something.

FAQs

How can I use "skim" in a sentence?

You can use "skim" to describe reading something quickly and superficially, as in "I only had time to "skim" the report before the meeting", or to describe removing something from the surface of a liquid, as in "Skim the fat off the soup before serving".

What are some alternatives to saying "I skimmed it"?

Depending on the context, you could say "I "glanced at it"", "I "browsed through it"", or "I "read it quickly"".

What's the difference between "skim" and "scan" when reading?

"Skimming" (/s/skim) involves reading something quickly to get a general idea, while "scanning" (/s/scan) is looking for specific information within a text.

Is it appropriate to "skim" important documents?

While "skimming" (/s/skim) can be useful for getting a quick overview, it's generally not recommended for important documents where you need a thorough understanding. Consider "scanning" or "carefully reading" such documents instead.