Cool MateCheck vs Take a look
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Check
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Take a look
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Check | Take a look | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //teɪk ə lʊk//🇺🇸 //teɪk ə lʊk// |
| Meaning | To look at something to see if it's correct or okay. | To glance at something. |
| Example | Please check your answers before submitting the test. | Can you take a look at this report? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| 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 | take a closer look, take a quick look, take a look over, take a second look, take a look at |
| Antonyms | ignore, disregard | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'cheque' in British English., Using 'check' as a noun without proper context., Incorrectly conjugating 'check' in the past tense. | Using 'take a look' without a specific object., Confusing 'take a look' with 'have a look'., Using 'take a look' in very formal contexts. |
| 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.' | Used in casual conversation and written contexts to suggest someone should observe or consider something. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Check vs Take a look
What's the difference between Check and Take a look?
Check: To look at something to see if it's correct or okay. Take a look: To glance at something.
Can you show an example of each?
Check: Please check your answers before submitting the test. Take a look: Can you take a look at this report?
Can I use Check and Take a look interchangeably?
Not always. Check and Take a look 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.