Cool MateLook at this vs You see this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Look at this
Top 2,000 (common)
You see this
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Look at this
| Look at this | You see this | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lʊk æt ðɪs//🇺🇸 //lʊk æt ðɪs// | 🇬🇧 //juː siː ðɪs//🇺🇸 //ju si ðɪs// |
| Meaning | Please see this. | You notice or observe this. |
| Example | Look at this beautiful sunset! | You see this beautiful sunset over the ocean. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| Collocations | look at this picture, look at this problem, look at this example | You see this example, You see this trend, You see this clearly |
| Antonyms | ignore this, overlook this, disregard this | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Look at this' is often confused with 'Look this.', 'Look at' should not be used with vague objects like 'it' without context. | Using it in overly formal situations where a more specific description is needed., Omitting the subject in discussions where clarity is required. |
| Usage notes | Use when drawing attention to something. Avoid in very formal contexts or when you need to be indirect. | Used to draw attention to something. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may feel informal in formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Look at this vs You see this
What's the difference between Look at this and You see this?
Look at this: Please see this. You see this: You notice or observe this.
Which is more common: Look at this and You see this?
Look at this is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Look at this: Look at this beautiful sunset! You see this: You see this beautiful sunset over the ocean.
Can I use Look at this and You see this interchangeably?
Not always. Look at this and You see this are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.