Cool MateGo through vs Inspect
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Go through
Top 1,000 (very common)
Inspect
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Go through
| Go through | Inspect | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɡoʊ θruː//🇺🇸 //ɡoʊ θru// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈspekt/","/ɪnˈspekts/","/ɪnˈspektɪd/","/ɪnˈspektɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈspekt/","/ɪnˈspekts/","/ɪnˈspektɪd/","/ɪnˈspektɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to examine or check something carefully | To look at something carefully to learn more about it. |
| Example | I need to go through the reports before the meeting. | The teacher walked around inspecting their work. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | go through the motions, go through a process, go through changes | carefully, closely, thoroughly, allow somebody to, be entitled to, for, carefully, closely, thoroughly, allow somebody to, be entitled to, for |
| Antonyms | ignore, overlook, bypass | ignore, overlook, neglect |
| Common mistakes | 'Go through' confused with 'pass through', which means to move through something quickly., Using 'go through' without an object, as it usually requires one., Incorrectly separating the phrase, e.g., 'go' and 'through'. | 'Inspect' is often confused with 'expect', leading to incorrect use., 'Inspect' is sometimes misused as a noun; it's only a verb., Learners might forget to use an object with 'inspect'. |
| Usage notes | Used in various contexts like reviewing documents, inspecting items, or experiencing challenges. Avoid in highly formal writing. | Use 'inspect' when examining objects, processes, or situations closely. More formal than 'look at'. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'check out' or 'look' are more common. |
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Frequently asked questions: Go through vs Inspect
What's the difference between Go through and Inspect?
Go through: to examine or check something carefully Inspect: To look at something carefully to learn more about it.
Which is more common: Go through and Inspect?
Go through is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Go through: I need to go through the reports before the meeting. Inspect: The teacher walked around inspecting their work.
Can I use Go through and Inspect interchangeably?
Not always. Go through and Inspect 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.