Check his medical records vs Examine

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Check his medical records

Top 2,000 (common)

Examine

Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
 Check his medical recordsExamine
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ʧɛk hɪz ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈrɛkɔːdz//🇺🇸 //ʧɛk hɪz ˈmɛdɪkəl ˈrɛkərdz//🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/
MeaningLook at his health documents.to look at something carefully to learn more about it
ExampleBefore proceeding, make sure to check his medical records.The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechverb
Collocationscheck records, check history, check informationcarefully, 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…
Antonyms-ignore, overlook, neglect
Common mistakesConfused with 'check on' which means to verify a person's status., Using 'check' without an object, which makes it unclear what is being checked.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.
Usage notesUsed in healthcare contexts, typically when confirming information. Avoid informal language here.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.

See it in real clips

Check his medical records

Frequently asked questions: Check his medical records vs Examine

What's the difference between Check his medical records and Examine?

Check his medical records: Look at his health documents. Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it

Can you show an example of each?

Check his medical records: Before proceeding, make sure to check his medical records. Examine: The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up.

Can I use Check his medical records and Examine interchangeably?

Not always. Check his medical records and Examine 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.

Related comparisons