took a quick look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took a quick look" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you only glanced at something before taking some other action. For example, "I took a quick look at the daily sales report before approving the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

The commissioner took a quick look, and left.

The Guardian - Arts

I took a quick look at the calendar yesterday, and it confirmed my worst fears.

The New Yorker

Mr. Zimlichman took a quick look at his place, No. 6N, an unrenovated sponsor unit.

The New York Times

They also took a quick look at the proceedings to make sure everything was copacetic.

The New York Times - Sports

"When my shot missed, I took a quick look downcourt," Stevenson said.

The New York Times - Sports

We took a quick look out the window, but decided to stay focused on our meal.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Take a quick look around your office.

The Guardian - Money

Other women had taken a quick look and said no.

The New Yorker

Anyway, I only meant to take a quick look.

The New Yorker

I take a quick look at the numbers.

The Economist

So let's take a quick look at the economics.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took a quick look" when you want to emphasize the brevity of the examination. It's suitable when the action is cursory and not intended to be thorough.

Common error

Avoid using "took a quick look" in formal or academic writing where a more precise and professional term like "briefly examined" or "conducted a preliminary assessment" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took a quick look" functions as a verb phrase indicating a brief and cursory examination. It is used to describe the act of glancing at something without detailed inspection, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

20%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "took a quick look" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of briefly examining something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for conveying a cursory action across varied sources. While versatile, it's best reserved for neutral or informal contexts and avoided in highly formal or academic writing where alternatives like "briefly examined" are more appropriate. Its prevalence in news and media highlights its widespread understanding and acceptability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Glanced at

Focuses on the action of briefly looking, omitting the 'quick' nature.

Briefly examined

Emphasizes a short examination rather than just a look.

Checked briefly

Highlights the action of checking something quickly.

Cast a glance

More formal, highlighting the act of looking quickly.

Scanned rapidly

Focuses on covering a wide area with a quick look.

Had a peek

More informal, suggests a furtive or curious look.

Surveyed briefly

Implies a quick overview or assessment.

Gave a once-over

Suggests a comprehensive but quick look.

Eyeballed

Informal, suggests a casual assessment through a quick look.

Flicked through

Implies looking through something quickly, like pages of a book.

FAQs

What does "took a quick look" mean?

It means to briefly examine or glance at something. It suggests a cursory action, not a thorough investigation.

What can I say instead of "took a quick look"?

You can use alternatives like "glanced at", "briefly examined", or "cast a glance" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "took a quick look" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, it may be too informal for academic or professional writing. Consider using more precise and professional alternatives.

How to use "took a quick look" in a sentence?

For example, "I took a quick look at the report before the meeting." This indicates that you reviewed the report briefly, but not in detail.