skim through

USAGE SUMMARY

"skim through" is a valid and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to quickly reading a text or document in order to gain a basic understanding of the content or find a specific piece of information. For example: "I just had to skim through the report to find the monthly sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is just a skim through the data.

The Guardian

I'll skim through it now and post some extracts soon.

The Guardian

"I will probably take a skim through that".

The New York Times

Just skim through it for your performance bottlenecks.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The twist is too good to spoil, but Krieger and the writers skim through it as they skim through the rest of the story.

The New Yorker

They skim through subjects that get months of attention in an M.B.A. program.

The New York Times

Another improvement in the works provides a way to skim through voice sites.

MIT Technology Review

I'm very experienced at dealing with traffic and can skim through busy streets.

The Guardian - Money

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

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That provides a way to skim through blogs you already know about.

The Guardian - Tech

A quick skim through world religions suggests all are equally lacking in such vital liturgy.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "skim through" when you want to convey a fast and superficial reading, suitable for getting a general sense of the content without delving into details.

Common error

Avoid using "skim through" when a task requires a thorough understanding or analysis of the material. Choose terms like "analyze", "study", or "review" instead to reflect the depth of engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "skim through" primarily functions as a phrasal verb. It describes the action of reading something quickly and superficially, often to get a general idea without focusing on details. Ludwig shows numerous examples of this usage across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

29%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "skim through" is a common phrasal verb used to describe the act of quickly reading something, typically to get a general sense of the content without delving into details. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It appears most often in News & Media and Wiki contexts, with a neutral formality level making it suitable for various situations. Alternatives like "glance over" or "scan through" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using "skim through", ensure it aligns with the level of detail required for the task, avoiding its use when a thorough analysis is necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glance over

Implies a very quick look, often without detailed attention.

scan through

Suggests looking for specific information quickly.

browse through

Indicates a casual and unhurried examination.

leaf through

Focuses on physically turning pages while looking.

flick through

Similar to 'leaf through', emphasizing speed.

run through

Suggests a quick rehearsal or review.

dip into

Implies reading only selected parts.

peruse

Implies a more careful and thorough reading, though still relatively quick.

check briefly

Emphasizes the act of verifying something quickly.

review rapidly

Highlights the speed of the review process.

FAQs

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

You can use "skim through" to describe quickly reading something. For example, "I need to "skim through" this report before the meeting".

What's a good alternative to "skim through"?

Alternatives to "skim through" include "glance over", "scan through", or "browse through", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to "skim through" important documents?

While "skimming through" can be useful for getting a general idea, it's generally not advisable for important documents that require a detailed understanding. In such cases, a more thorough reading is recommended.

What's the difference between "skim through" and "read carefully"?

"Skim through" implies a quick and superficial reading, while "read carefully" suggests a thorough and detailed examination of the text.