skim over

USAGE SUMMARY

"skim over" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to explain that you are going quickly over something without going into too much detail. For example: "I'll just skim over the details and go straight to the conclusion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Aside from fairly detailed discussions of Hecht's early work on "Underground" and "Scarface," Mr. MacAdams tends to skim over questions of his actual work on individual pictures.

The New York Times - Books

Use headers and sub headers to make your brochure easy to skim over since most readers don't have the time nor patience to read long blocks of text.

WikiHow

They're easy to skim over.

The New York Times - Arts

Dragonflies skim over Fort Ticonderoga.

The New York Times

"If you're young and not there yet, you skim over it," Blume said.

The New Yorker

We skim over fresh water, past wallowing buffalo, deeper into the forest.

The Guardian - Travel

"They'd skim over the seas snapping up ducks and flying fish.

The Guardian - Books

His skirts just skim over the knees and aren't at all extreme.

The New York Times

Cabbage white butterflies skim over tomato plants that are ready for an end-of-summer harvest.

The New York Times

"They want to skim over the deal and tell us to vote for it".

The New York Times

But his words skim over the financial reality of Social Security.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "skim over" when you want to convey that something is reviewed quickly without delving into details. It's suitable for contexts where thoroughness is not required or intended.

Common error

Avoid using "skim over" when you mean to "skimp on", which means to provide less of something than is necessary or expected. For example, "Don't skimp on the details" is different from "Skim over the introduction".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "skim over" functions primarily as a modifier of an action, indicating that the action (e.g., reading, reviewing) is performed quickly and without thorough attention to detail. Ludwig AI indicates that it's considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

28%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skim over" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe a quick and superficial examination or movement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and its frequency of use is high across various contexts, particularly in news media and online wikis. While it's important to use it appropriately, avoiding confusion with similar phrases like "skimp on", mastering its usage can improve the clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glance at

Focuses on a brief look, emphasizing speed and lack of depth.

browse through

Suggests a casual and less structured form of looking or reading.

scan through

Implies a purposeful but quick review to find specific information.

touch upon

Indicates a brief mention of a topic without detailed exploration.

cover superficially

Highlights the lack of depth in the treatment of a subject.

pass over

Emphasizes the act of skipping or ignoring something.

surface-level examination

Highlights that the level of analysis is basic.

flick through

Implies a rapid and casual handling of something, like pages in a book.

run through

Suggests a quick rehearsal or review, often without full engagement.

lip service

Referring to expressing allegiance insincerely

FAQs

How can I use "skim over" in a sentence?

You can use "skim over" to indicate a quick and superficial reading or review. For example, "I'll just skim over the report to get the main points".

What is an alternative to "skim over" that suggests a more detailed review?

If you want to convey a more thorough examination, consider using phrases like "delve into" or "scrutinize" instead of "skim over".

When is it appropriate to "skim over" something rather than reading it carefully?

It's appropriate to "skim over" material when you need to get a general understanding quickly or when the details are not crucial. If you need to know the minute details, consider deeply reading the document instead of "skim over" it.

What's the difference between "skim over" and "skip"?

"Skim over" implies a light, fast reading, while "skip" means to omit something entirely. You skim over a chapter to understand the main idea but skip it if you don't need to read it at all.