Cool MateLook at this vs Look what i just found
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Look at this
Top 2,000 (common)
Look what i just found
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Look at thisMost common: Look at this
| Look at this | Look what i just found | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lʊk æt ðɪs//🇺🇸 //lʊk æt ðɪs// | 🇬🇧 //lʊk wɒt aɪ dʒʌst faʊnd//🇺🇸 //lʊk wɑt aɪ dʒʌst faʊnd// |
| Meaning | Please see this. | See what I just discovered. |
| Example | Look at this beautiful sunset! | Look what I just found on the way to the store! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | look at this picture, look at this problem, look at this example | look what I found, just discovered, found something exciting |
| 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. | Omitting the 'I' and saying 'look what just found', Using in formal contexts where a more serious tone is needed, Misplacing the emphasis, making it sound dull or uninterested |
| Usage notes | Use when drawing attention to something. Avoid in very formal contexts or when you need to be indirect. | Used in casual conversations, often to show excitement about a newly discovered item or information. Not suitable in formal discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Look at this vs Look what i just found
What's the difference between Look at this and Look what i just found?
Look at this: Please see this. Look what i just found: See what I just discovered.
Which is more formal: Look at this and Look what i just found?
Look at this is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Look at this and Look what i just found?
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! Look what i just found: Look what I just found on the way to the store!
Can I use Look at this and Look what i just found interchangeably?
Not always. Look at this and Look what i just found 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.