to skim over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to skim over" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of reading or reviewing something quickly, without paying close attention to details. Example: "I tend to skim over the reports before the meeting to get a general idea of the content."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 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

So there is an awful lot more stuff out there to skim over, whole libraries full of unfinished books, warehouses of unwatched DVD extras, a universe of cyberspace crammed with saggy, overlong creative endeavours that no-one will ever get around to experiencing in full, despite their best intentions.

BBC

With a new feature for the iPhone called Cover Stories, you get an easy-to-access, on-the-move page to skim over so you can see what's being shared at any given moment.

Vice

Although the mobility of the ion is hindered by the decreased diffusion coefficient, as the ion gets closer to the protein's surface, its residence time increases, enabling it to skim over longer distances in the 1st shell than in the 2nd one.

Plosone

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

Studies show that your writing is still fresh in your mind for 2-3 dafterfinishingshing, and so you are more likely to skim over basic mistakes that you would otherwise catch.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

The story is a small one, a domestic tragedy of a type that turns up in the newspaper almost daily, to be skimmed over and then shrugged off as someone else's problem.

The New York Times

I'm not surprised that the Tory view is that these pesky environmental issues should be hurried through and skimmed over, to ensure that some money can be made.

The Guardian

To improve the accuracy of the scanning, the researchers built a virtual "sliding shapes detector" to skim slowly over the scenes, like a magnifying glass skimming over a picture, only in three dimensions, looking for structures that the computer has learned are associated with different types of chairs.

Princeton University

Community curation has already replaced the need for FlyBase curators to skim curate over 40% of newly published papers.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Don't worry about trying to skim right over the top of the sediment and get all the wine possible out and remove all the sediment.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to skim over" when you want to convey that something is reviewed quickly without detailed attention. This is useful when time is limited, or the details are not immediately important.

Common error

Avoid using "to skim over" when you actually mean to completely omit or skip sections. "Skimming" implies a quick pass, while "skipping" means leaving something out entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "to skim over" functions as a verb phrase, describing an action. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating how something is being read or reviewed. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

29%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "to skim over" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the act of quickly reviewing something without paying close attention to detail. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's important to distinguish it from "skipping", which implies omitting sections entirely. The phrase is used across various contexts, including news, general writing, and scientific discourse, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary. Remember to choose the related phrase, such as "glance at" or "scan through", that accurately captures the nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skim through quickly

Adds emphasis to the speed of the action.

skip over

Highlights the act of intentionally missing parts.

glance at

Focuses on a quick look, without necessarily implying a lack of thoroughness.

look over

A more general term for reviewing, can be quick or thorough.

scan through

Implies a more systematic, though still rapid, examination.

run through

Implies a swift but complete review.

browse

Suggests a casual and unfocused perusal.

pass over

Focuses on neglecting or ignoring something.

touch upon

Indicates a brief mention of a topic, rather than reviewing written material.

read cursorily

Emphasizes the lack of attention to detail in reading.

FAQs

What does "to skim over" mean?

The phrase "to skim over" means to read or review something quickly, without paying close attention to details. It suggests a superficial examination of the material.

What can I say instead of "to skim over"?

You can use alternatives like "glance at", "scan through", or "skip over" depending on the context.

How do I use "to skim over" in a sentence?

Example: "I tend to skim over the reports before the meeting to get a general idea of the content."

Is it better to "skim over" or "read carefully"?

It depends on your purpose. "Skimming over" is useful when you need to get a general understanding quickly, while "reading carefully" is necessary when you need to understand the details.