skips over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "skips over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of omitting or bypassing something, often in a narrative or instructional context. Example: "In his presentation, he skips over the complex details to focus on the main points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There's a culture that skips over Connecticut entirely.

The New York Times

The structure of the film, which skips over the details of the trial and flashes back teasingly to the crime itself, allows for some ambiguity about her guilt.

The New York Times

He skips over the possibility of innocence.

The New Yorker

That analysis skips over two caveats.

The Washington Post

Rather, it's the "equality" bit that she skips over.

The Guardian - Opinion

The documentary, blessedly, skips over Boris Godunov altogether.

The New York Times - Arts

But the ball skips over the bank and breaks onto the putting surface.

The Guardian - Sport

All of this skips over what's probably the most important role Facebook played.

The Washington Post

Understandably he skips over any effort to explain or justify this assumption by argument.

The Guardian - Opinion

This view, however, skips over a key distinction between Brady and discovery.

The Washington Post

When typing an answer, the cursor skips over already filled letters.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "skips over" when you want to indicate that something is intentionally or unintentionally bypassed in a process, discussion, or narrative. This phrase works well to suggest a lack of detailed attention or a deliberate omission for brevity or focus.

Common error

While "skips over" is acceptable, it can sound informal in academic or professional writing. In these contexts, consider more formal alternatives like "omits" or "bypasses" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "skips over" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically a transitive verb, where "skips" acts as the verb and "over" as the particle. It modifies a noun or pronoun to indicate the act of omitting or bypassing something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is valid and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "skips over" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates the act of omitting or bypassing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted across diverse sources. While it's suitable for general use, remember that more formal alternatives like "omits" or "bypasses" may be preferable in academic or professional contexts. Key to its successful application is understanding the nuances of similar phrases like "overlooks" or "ignores" to best convey your intended meaning. Its prevalence in News & Media underscores its status as a go-to phrase for describing intentional or unintentional omissions in various narratives and processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overlooks

Implies a failure to notice or consider something, suggesting inadvertence more strongly than "skips over".

bypasses

Suggests a deliberate act of avoiding something, emphasizing the intentionality more than "skips over".

omits

Indicates a conscious decision to leave something out, highlighting the exclusion more explicitly than "skips over".

glances over

Implies a quick and superficial examination, suggesting a lack of thoroughness more strongly than "skips over".

brushes aside

Suggests a dismissive attitude, implying that something is intentionally disregarded as unimportant unlike "skips over" which is neutral.

disregards

Implies a conscious neglect or inattention, suggesting a stronger level of indifference than "skips over".

leaves out

Indicates a deliberate exclusion, often implying that something is missing unlike "skips over" which could also mean a fast transit.

passes over

Suggests moving beyond something without engaging with it, emphasizing the transit more than "skips over".

skims through

Implies a superficial reading or examination, indicating a lack of detailed attention unlike "skips over" which could imply full inattention.

ignores

Suggests a willful refusal to acknowledge or consider something, stronger indifference compared to "skips over".

FAQs

What does "skips over" mean?

The phrase "skips over" means to omit, bypass, or gloss over something, often implying a lack of detailed attention or a deliberate choice to avoid a topic.

What can I say instead of "skips over"?

You can use alternatives like "overlooks", "bypasses", or "omits" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "skips over" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "skips over" might be considered informal for academic or professional writing. Consider alternatives like "omits" or "bypasses" for a more formal tone.

How to use "skips over" in a sentence?

You can use "skips over" to indicate that someone is omitting information, for instance: "The presentation "skips over" the complex details to focus on the main points."