Cool MateCheck vs Examine vs Review vs Scans
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Check
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Examine
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Review
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Scans
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Check | Examine | Review | Scans | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈvjuː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈvjuː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //skæn//🇺🇸 //skæn// |
| Meaning | To look at something to see if it's correct or okay. | to look at something carefully to learn more about it | To look at something again to check or evaluate it. | Looking closely at something to get information. |
| Example | Please check your answers before submitting the test. | The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. | I wrote a review of the new restaurant that just opened. | He scans the document for any errors. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | noun | |
| Collocations | always, daily, periodically, had better, must, need to, against, for, with, be worth checking, check to see if, check to see whether, always, daily, periodically, had better, must, need to, against, for, with, be worth checking, check to see if, check to see whether, simply, mentally, off | carefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine…, carefully, closely, in detail, aim to, attempt to, be designed to, for, let us examine… | enthusiastic, excellent, favourable/favorable, do, write, give something, appear, copy, article, do, class, session, materials, review for, careful, complete, comprehensive, ask for, call for, seek, take place, cover something, deal with something, board, body, committee, under review, up for review, review by | scan a document, scan for signals, scan the horizon, scan an image, scan the crowd |
| Antonyms | ignore, disregard | ignore, overlook, neglect | ignore, overlook | neglect, ignore |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'cheque' in British English., Using 'check' as a noun without proper context., Incorrectly conjugating 'check' in the past tense. | Confused with 'inspect' — 'examine' is broader than just checking for flaws., Misusing the tense — should use 'examined' for past actions, not 'examine'., Incorrect prepositions — do not say 'examine to' but 'examine for' in some contexts. | Using 'review' as a noun and verb without context (needs clear subject or object)., Confusing 'review' with 'revise' (review is for checking, revise is for changing)., Saying 'make a review' instead of 'write a review.' | Confusing 'scan' with 'scan over' - they have slightly different meanings., Using 'scan' as a noun incorrectly instead of a verb. |
| Usage notes | Used in various contexts such as checking information, verifying facts, or inspecting items. Avoid using in very formal writing; instead, opt for 'verify' or 'inspect.' | Use 'examine' in formal contexts like academic writing or professional discussions. It may sound out of place in casual conversations, where 'look at' might be preferred. | Use 'review' in both formal and informal contexts, like schoolwork or feedback on a product. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing specific topics. | Use 'scans' in both technical and informal contexts, such as scanning documents or quickly looking at something. |
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Frequently asked questions: Check vs Examine vs Review vs Scans
What's the difference between Check, Examine, Review, and Scans?
Check: To look at something to see if it's correct or okay. Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it Review: To look at something again to check or evaluate it. Scans: Looking closely at something to get information.
Which is more advanced: Check, Examine, Review, and Scans?
Examine is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Check: Please check your answers before submitting the test. Examine: The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. Review: I wrote a review of the new restaurant that just opened. Scans: He scans the document for any errors.
Can I use Check, Examine, Review, and Scans interchangeably?
Not always. Check, Examine, Review, and Scans 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.