thorough physical examination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thorough physical examination" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when describing an examination administered by a doctor to assess a patient's overall physical health. For example, "The doctor gave the patient a thorough physical examination before making a diagnosis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A thorough physical examination is an important ritual that benefits patients and physicians.

Stanford University

A thorough physical examination revealed an error in the original diagnosis.

Stanford University

One Republican official said that before Dr. Cooley's telephone call Mr. Cheney had undergone a thorough physical examination last week.

The New York Times

But it was not the mammogram that picked up my tumor; it was the nurse's thorough physical examination given in conjunction with the mammogram that found a lump.

The New York Times

According to the World Health Organization, the proper assessment and diagnosis of male fertility should include a semen analysis and a thorough physical examination.

The Guardian

He was then flown to Baltimore and admitted to the Johns Hopkins University Hospital where physicians conducted a thorough physical examination.

The New Yorker

I received a thorough physical examination from my CannaMed doctor, who checked not only my pulse but my blood pressure as well.

The New York Times

A spokesman for the Cardinals, Brad Hainje, said Saturday that Kile had had a thorough physical examination in February, and that he was not aware if Kile had had another one since.

The New York Times - Sports

The scientists then tagged and photographed each animal, gave them a thorough physical examination, analyzed them for behavioral issues and abnormalities and removed a drop of blood for detailed genetic and serum studies.

Stanford University

Step 2: A thorough physical examination (including provocative measures).

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The preoperative screening protocol included a thorough physical examination and radiological assessment of the chest and cervical and thoracic spine.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thorough physical examination" to emphasize the comprehensive nature of a medical check-up, assuring patients that their health is being meticulously assessed.

Common error

Avoid replacing "thorough physical examination" with overly technical terms that may not be understood by all audiences. Maintain clarity by using language that is accessible to both medical professionals and the general public.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thorough physical examination" functions as a noun phrase, where "thorough" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "physical examination". It describes a comprehensive assessment of a patient's physical health, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

22%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thorough physical examination" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe a comprehensive medical assessment. According to Ludwig, it functions as a noun phrase and conveys the rigor of the evaluation, as it is often found in scientific, academic, and news contexts. When writing, it's best to avoid overly technical jargon and ensure clarity for all audiences. Alternatives include "comprehensive medical checkup" and "detailed medical evaluation", depending on the desired level of detail and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comprehensive medical checkup

Replaces "examination" with "checkup", implying a routine but detailed evaluation.

detailed medical evaluation

Substitutes "physical examination" with "medical evaluation", suggesting a broader assessment including tests.

complete physical assessment

Uses "assessment" instead of "examination", indicating an evaluative approach.

extensive clinical assessment

Replaces "physical" with "clinical", emphasizing the medical setting and nature.

full medical workup

Offers a more informal term "workup" for a complete diagnostic process.

in-depth health screening

Highlights the screening aspect, focusing on identifying potential health issues.

exhaustive diagnostic process

Emphasizes the completeness of the diagnostic procedure.

meticulous health evaluation

Highlights the precision and attention to detail in the evaluation process.

systematic physical assessment

Focuses on the structured and orderly approach of the assessment.

rigorous clinical examination

Stresses the strict and demanding nature of the examination.

FAQs

How to use "thorough physical examination" in a sentence?

You can use "thorough physical examination" to describe a detailed medical assessment, such as: "The patient underwent a "thorough physical examination" to determine the cause of their symptoms."

What can I say instead of "thorough physical examination"?

You can use alternatives like "comprehensive medical checkup", "detailed medical evaluation", or "complete physical assessment depending on the context".

Which is correct, "thorough physical examination" or "thorough medical examination"?

Both "thorough physical examination" and "thorough medical examination" are correct, but ""thorough physical examination"" specifically emphasizes the physical aspects of the assessment, while "thorough medical examination" can include other tests and evaluations.

What's the difference between "thorough physical examination" and "routine checkup"?

A ""thorough physical examination"" implies a more in-depth and detailed assessment than a "routine checkup", which is typically a standard and less extensive evaluation.