Cool MateCheck him out vs Look at
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Check him out
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Look at
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most formal: Look atMost common: Look at
| Check him out | Look at | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ʧɛk hɪm aʊt//🇺🇸 //ʧɛk hɪm aʊt// | 🇬🇧 //lʊk æt//🇺🇸 //lʊk æt// |
| Meaning | Look at him or see what he's like. | To see or pay attention to something. |
| Example | You should really check him out; he has great style. | Please look at the diagram on the board. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | check someone out, check out a place, check out together | look at someone, look at something, look at the results, look at the evidence |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'check in', which means to register, Using 'check out' without object when it's needed, Assuming it's always a positive action | Using 'look at' without an object, e.g. 'Look at.', Confusing with 'see' as both can mean looking., Incorrectly using 'look at' for non-visual contexts, e.g. emotions. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversation; may not be suitable for formal writing. Check out can imply casual observation or evaluation. | Use 'look at' for directing someone's attention. It’s neutral enough for casual and formal situations, but avoid in overly serious contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Check him out vs Look at
What's the difference between Check him out and Look at?
Check him out: Look at him or see what he's like. Look at: To see or pay attention to something.
Which is more formal: Check him out and Look at?
Look at is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Check him out and Look at?
Look at is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Check him out: You should really check him out; he has great style. Look at: Please look at the diagram on the board.
Can I use Check him out and Look at interchangeably?
Not always. Check him out and Look at 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.