Glance vs You can look right down into

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

Glance

Top 2,000 (common)C1verb

You can look right down into

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Glance
 GlanceYou can look right down into
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ɡlɑːns//🇺🇸 //ɡlæns//🇬🇧 //juː kən lʊk raɪt daʊn ˈɪntuː//🇺🇸 //ju kən lʊk raɪt daʊn ˈɪntu//
MeaningTo quickly look at something.You can see directly into something.
ExampleI took a quick glance at the report.From the balcony, you can look right down into the bustling street below.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsglance at, glance over, quick glancelook right down into the water, look right down into the deep, can look right down into
Antonymsstare, gaze-
Common mistakesConfused with 'stare' – 'glance' is brief, while 'stare' is prolonged., Using 'glance' as a noun incorrectly – it should be a verb., Saying 'glance at that' instead of 'glance at those' when plural.Using 'look down right into' instead of 'look right down into'., Confusing 'look right down into' with 'look into'., Overusing the phrase when describing flat surfaces instead of deep spaces.
Usage notesUse 'glance' in a neutral context where a quick look is appropriate. Avoid informal settings, but it is suitable for both written and spoken English.Often used in both spoken and written contexts, typically referring to seeing into a deep place, like a hole or body of water. Avoid using in very formal writing.

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Glance
You can look right down into

Frequently asked questions: Glance vs You can look right down into

What's the difference between Glance and You can look right down into?

Glance: To quickly look at something. You can look right down into: You can see directly into something.

Which is more common: Glance and You can look right down into?

Glance is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Glance: I took a quick glance at the report. You can look right down into: From the balcony, you can look right down into the bustling street below.

Can I use Glance and You can look right down into interchangeably?

Not always. Glance and You can look right down into 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.

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