Thread: look through, glance at/over/through

I've looked up words which mean "read quickly".
That's what I found:

1. read quickly to find a particular piece of information
scan, scan through

2. read quickly to get a general idea or what is it about
skim, skim through/over

3. read quickly to check that there are no mistakes or problems
take a look, look over

But I didn't find what exactly look through and glance at/over/through mean. Could somebody explain it? And there are probably other words that mean "read quickly". If so, I'd like to know them too.

AFAIK, you can use "look through" in all of those meanings as well but maybe there's also some more precise meaning. Let's wait.

alexei - there is no real difference between any of the examples. You could add flick through, which is popular. Different flavours of 'reading quickly' can be introduced by using additional words and context etc.

Also glance through and have a gander at .... - 'gander' is not so common these days but my Grandad used it often.

Originally Posted by alexei

But I didn't find what exactly look through and glance at/over/through mean. Could somebody explain it? And there are probably other words that mean "read quickly".

"Look through" in the sense of a book doesn't always mean to read quickly. It means exactly what it says. Like if you were looking through a magazine. You're not reading it quickly-more like you're seeing what's in it. Glance at/over/through is the same thing. When you "glance" you still aren't reading quickly. I don't hear that very often referring to books or reading. More like you glance at a person, glance over the mess in your room, or glance through a stack of pictures. If I heard either one of those sayings, I wouldn't think you were reading really quickly-I wouldn't think you read it at all. I think it's because those words don't imply a fast action. Could be just me though. Your other ones were better to say.
I know some people around here say "speed read." I think that's only because it rhymes so it sounds cool.

"look through" also can have the meaning of seeing a deception. "She looked right through his charming personality." means she could see he was really not a nice person.
Can also be "see through". "She can see right through him."

Originally Posted by майк

alexei - there is no real difference between any of the examples

Ok майк, then I'd like to know 'unreal differences' :)
flick through has been added!

Originally Posted by TiaraNEug

Like if you were looking through a magazine. You're not reading it quickly-more like you're seeing what's in it.

So you want to say that it's not a synonym for "skim, skim through/over"?
But here is written that it means "to read something quickly" :o
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/defi...8019&dict=CALD

Originally Posted by TiaraNEug

When you "glance" you still aren't reading quickly. I don't hear that very often referring to books or reading. More like you glance at a person, glance over the mess in your room, or glance through a stack of pictures. If I heard either one of those sayings, I wouldn't think you were reading really quickly-I wouldn't think you read it at all.

I thought the same untill I've found it in one dictionary (Longman as far as I remember). And майк confirmed that it meant 'read quckly' if I took it the right way. Maybe it's because of the difference between British and American language?

Originally Posted by Friendy

AFAIK, you can use "look through" in all of those meanings as well but maybe there's also some more precise meaning. Let's wait. :)

It turned out that it's not so clear :)

"Look through" and "skim through" can be used interchangeably if you're talking about reading a magazine or something.

If you glance at something, you're not really reading it. But if you glance through it, you are(sort of, anyway). Although on this side of the pond I've never heard "glance through", I would understand it if someone said it.

Actually, for example, if someone gave you some papers to look over, you could say "I'll have a glance at it." Ah, I don't know. There are no real rules in English. Just have fun!

Originally Posted by TiaraNEug

"Look through" in the sense of a book doesn't always mean to read quickly.....Could be just me though.

Alexei-note how I said " doesn't always." And then how I said that my opinions were just me. A lot of this could have to do with where you are from, like Pravit said. If you don't know the correct answer, how are you going to tell me that my answer is wrong?

To me "glance" is like a perfective one-time verb, like бросить взгляд. I don't think I would use this verb with a book because of the required duration.

Ok майк, then I'd like to know 'unreal differences'
flick through has been added!

Just so you know, that's british english.

Americans would say either one of those three, or "Flip through".

Like, my teacher would say,

"here matt, here's he book, flip through a few pages on chapter 6 to see what you missed".

Originally Posted by chaika

To me "glance" is like a perfective one-time verb, like бросить взгляд. I don't think I would use this verb with a book because of the required duration.

Mmm. That does make sense. I agree with that side too.
Yeah, Dogboy, I would more likely use "flip" rather than "flick." When I(meaning me personally) hear "flick," I get an image of someone flicking someone else's ear. Or that Friends episode when Monica and Rachel were flicking each others foreheads and saying "Did you just flick me?!"

Friends. Yeaaaaaaaaah ; )

Originally Posted by Pravit

Actually, for example, if someone gave you some papers to look over, you could say "I'll have a glance at it." Ah, I don't know. There are no real rules in English. Just have fun!

"I'll have a glance through it." - sounds OK to me anyway.

If you ask me to have a flip through something I'll look at you with a perplexed expression contemplating gymnastic manoeuvres - some of my English mates think it sounds OK though!

Have a butchers at this will you
Have a skeg at this (probably a Navy term)
Go over
Leaf through
Have a shufty at this - (Not uncommon and informal)
Cast your eye over this
Have a look-see

You forgot 'have a dekko'.

Still used at girls' boarding-schools, as far as I know.

Originally Posted by joysof

You forgot 'have a dekko'.

Still used at girls' boarding-schools, as far as I know.

Nice one! 'dekko' not uncommon in my experience.

As a matter of interest not uncommon fits between uncommon and common, rather than being the same as common: -

uncommon >>> not uncommon >>> common >>> very common

Oh, so many opinions!
I'll try to summarize them.

skim through - OK
look throught - OK
glance through, flick through - British English
flip through - American English
glance at/over, take a look - mean something else

But what about these ones? Nobody said anything about them.

scan, scan through - ???
skim over - ???
look over - ???

Originally Posted by TiaraNEug

Alexei-note how I said " doesn't always." And then how I said that my opinions were just me. A lot of this could have to do with where you are from, like Pravit said. If you don't know the correct answer, how are you going to tell me that my answer is wrong?

Sorry, I didn't notice "always". And I wasn't going to say that your answer is wrong because I didn't know the right one.

Originally Posted by Dogboy182

Americans would say either one of those three, or "Flip through".

Which three?

Originally Posted by майк

Have a butchers at this will you
Have a skeg at this (probably a Navy term)
Go over
Leaf through
Have a shufty at this - (Not uncommon and informal)
Cast your eye over this
Have a look-see

Thanks for more verbs, I'll try to memorize them after I manage with the ones I wrote :)

scan, scan through - to scan means to look through
She scanned through her folders to make sure they were all there.

skim over - to look over but not in detail
She skimmed over her notes before the test.
She skimmed over the assigned chapters.

look over- to look through, look at
She looked over her notes before handing them in to the teacher.
She looked over her essay before printing it on the computer.

Did I help?

scan, scan through - ???
skim over - ???
look over - ???

These 3 =). They are all fine. All fine examples, just make sure u dont mess up british and american, you'll sound wierd.

Originally Posted by alexei

Oh, so many opinions!

Originally Posted by alexei

mean something else

Why there are so many opinions is because, in my experience, all these phrases mean just about the same thing. They are all legitimate English language phrases with some minor stylistic differences.

Okay we have identified a difference between 'flip' and 'flick' but that's about it. The meaning in each case will come down to the use of other words, context, and when spoken, intonation and non-verbal langauge etc.

Евгения Белякова
Sure you did!

dogboy
LOL. If so, suppose the case is closed. If I mess up, please let me know.

майк
I see this now. I'm not complaining, I was glad to hear all of them (opinions)!

Thank you all!