Cool MateCheck vs Examine vs Inspect vs Review vs Take a look inside
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Check
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Examine
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Inspect
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Review
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Take a look inside
Top 2,000 (common)
| Check | Examine | Inspect | Review | Take a look inside | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃek/","/tʃeks/","/tʃekt/","/ˈtʃekɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnz/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnd/","/ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈspekt/","/ɪnˈspekts/","/ɪnˈspektɪd/","/ɪnˈspektɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈspekt/","/ɪnˈspekts/","/ɪnˈspektɪd/","/ɪnˈspektɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈvjuː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈvjuː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //teɪk ə lʊk ɪnˈsaɪd//🇺🇸 //teɪk ə lʊk ɪnˈsaɪd// |
| Meaning | To look at something to see if it's correct or okay. | to look at something carefully to learn more about it | To look at something carefully to learn more about it. | To look at something again to check or evaluate it. | To check or examine something. |
| Example | Please check your answers before submitting the test. | The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. | The teacher walked around inspecting their work. | I wrote a review of the new restaurant that just opened. | You should take a look inside the drawer for the lost keys. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 | C1 | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | noun | |
| 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 | carefully, 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… | carefully, closely, thoroughly, allow somebody to, be entitled to, for, carefully, closely, thoroughly, allow somebody to, be entitled to, for | enthusiastic, excellent, favourable/favorable, do, write, give something, appear, copy, article, do, class, session, materials, review for, careful, complete, comprehensive, ask for, call for, seek, take place, cover something, deal with something, board, body, committee, under review, up for review, review by | take a look inside the box, take a look inside the room, take a look inside the file |
| Antonyms | ignore, disregard | ignore, overlook, neglect | ignore, overlook, neglect | ignore, overlook | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'cheque' in British English., Using 'check' as a noun without proper context., Incorrectly conjugating 'check' in the past tense. | 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. | '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'. | Using 'review' as a noun and verb without context (needs clear subject or object)., Confusing 'review' with 'revise' (review is for checking, revise is for changing)., Saying 'make a review' instead of 'write a review.' | Using 'at' instead of 'inside' - correct phrase is 'take a look inside', not 'take a look at inside'., Confusing with 'have a look' - 'take a look inside' implies examining something more closely., Using it without an object - always specify what you are taking a look inside. |
| 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.' | 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. | 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. | Use 'review' in both formal and informal contexts, like schoolwork or feedback on a product. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing specific topics. | Used when inviting someone to observe or investigate something. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Check vs Examine vs Inspect vs Review vs Take a look inside
What's the difference between Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Take a look inside?
Check: To look at something to see if it's correct or okay. Examine: to look at something carefully to learn more about it Inspect: To look at something carefully to learn more about it. Review: To look at something again to check or evaluate it. Take a look inside: To check or examine something.
Which is more advanced: Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Take a look inside?
Inspect is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Check: Please check your answers before submitting the test. Examine: The doctor will examine your health thoroughly during the check-up. Inspect: The teacher walked around inspecting their work. Review: I wrote a review of the new restaurant that just opened. Take a look inside: You should take a look inside the drawer for the lost keys.
Can I use Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Take a look inside interchangeably?
Not always. Check, Examine, Inspect, Review, and Take a look inside 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.