What's the difference between 'check off' and 'tick off' in tech?

'Check off' is used in American English. 'Tick off' is used in British English. Both mean the same thing — to mark an item as done. In global tech teams, 'check off' is more common.

Can I say 'check off' in formal writing?

Yes, 'check off' works in both casual and formal contexts. You can use it in Jira tickets, status emails, or documentation.

Is it 'check off the task' or 'check the task off'?

Both are correct. With nouns, you can say 'check off the task' or 'check the task off'. With pronouns, you must say 'check it off', not 'check off it'.

What does 'check off' mean in a GitHub PR?

In a GitHub PR, 'check off' means marking checklist items as complete. PRs often have checklists for tests, reviews, or documentation. You check off each item when it's done.

Can 'check off' mean to verify something?

Yes, sometimes. When you check off a requirement, it can mean you verified it meets the criteria. But the main meaning is marking something as complete.

What Does "Check Off" Mean? | Speak Tech English

Commonness
Versatility
Formality	CasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ Written	SpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ Diplomatic	DirectDiplomaticNeutral
Region

Say it like this

✓Let me check that off the list.

✓I checked off the last two items this morning.

✓Can you check off those requirements once they're verified?

✓We're checking things off one by one.

✓I'll check it off when the tests pass.

Real examples

Standup

"I checked off three tasks yesterday and I'm starting the API work today."

Slack message

"Just checked off the security review — we're good to deploy."

GitHub PR

"I've checked off all the items in the PR checklist."

Jira ticket

"Please check off the acceptance criteria as you complete them."

Retrospective

"We checked off all our sprint goals this time, which was great."

Sprint planning

"Let's check off the must-haves before we add any nice-to-haves."

Pair programming

"Can you check off that test case? It's passing now."

Don't say this

✕I will check the task.

✓I will check off the task.— Without 'off', 'check' means to look at or verify, not to mark as done.

✕I checked off on the task.

✓I checked off the task.— Don't add 'on' after 'check off'. The phrasal verb is just 'check off'.

✕I will check off it.

✓I will check it off.— When using a pronoun (it, them), the pronoun goes between 'check' and 'off'.

Other forms

base form

check off

"I need to check off these items."

past tense

checked off

"I checked off the bug fixes yesterday."

present continuous

checking off

"We're checking off tasks as we go."

past participle

checked off

"All items have been checked off."

Often used with

check off a taskThe most common use — mark a task complete.

check off itemsUsed for multiple things on a list.

check off the listRemove something from your to-do list by completing it.

check off requirementsVerify and mark requirements as met.

check off boxesComplete items in a checklist format.

Similar words

tick offBritish English equivalent. Same meaning.

mark as doneMore explicit, often used in digital tools.

completeMore formal. Focuses on finishing, not the list.

cross offSimilar meaning, but suggests striking through with a line.

Opposites

add to the listleave openmark as incompletereopen

Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Choose the most natural sentence

1. How would you tell your team you finished a task?

I checked the task.I checked off the task.I checked off on the task.

Find the error

2. I will check off it before the meeting.

check off it → check it offbefore → afterI will → I would

Fill in the blank

3. Can you _____ those requirements once they're verified?

Make this more natural

4. I completed and marked done all items on the acceptance criteria list.

More words

to-do list acceptance criteria done close out wrap up checklist sign off

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "check off" in a standup this week?

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