Say it like this
- Can you look through this PR when you have a minute?
- I'll look through the logs and get back to you.
- Let me look through the requirements before we start.
- I looked through the error messages but couldn't find anything useful.
- We should look through the documentation first.
Use it at work
Reviewing
- Could you look through the doc before the meeting?
- I'll look through the PR this afternoon.
Searching
- Let's look through the logs for errors.
- I looked through the tickets but couldn't find it.
Planning
- Look through the backlog and pick the top five.
- Can you look through the contract for risks?
Don't say this
Look through is followed directly by the object, no preposition needed.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| look through | Read or scan something | Anyone | Documents, lists |
| look into | Investigate a problem | Anyone | Problems, questions |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. How would you ask someone to check your pull request?
2. I looked through on the documentation but couldn't find the answer.
3. I need to look _____ the error logs before the meeting.
4. Rewrite: I will review the code carefully to find bugs.
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 5
"Can you look through this PR when you have a minute?"
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about look through
Real examples(7)
- Standup
"I'm going to look through the new feature requirements this morning."
- Slack message
"Hey, can you look through my changes before I merge?"
- GitHub PR
"I've looked through the code and left a few comments."
- Jira ticket
"Need to look through the error logs to identify the root cause."
- Retrospective
"We should look through last sprint's metrics before deciding on changes."
- Sprint planning
"Let's look through the backlog and prioritize the urgent items."
- Pair programming
"Can you look through this function while I explain the logic?"
More mistakes(2)
- ✕I looked through it but I don't read it carefully.✓I looked through it but I didn't read it carefully.
Keep verb tenses consistent. Use past tense for both actions.
- ✕I will look through.✓I will look through the document.
Look through needs an object. Say what you will look through.
Other forms(5)
- look through base form
"I need to look through the logs."
- looks through present simple
"She looks through every PR carefully."
- looked through past simple
"I looked through the documentation yesterday."
- looking through present continuous
"I'm looking through the error messages now."
- have/has looked through present perfect
"I've looked through the code and it looks fine."
Often used with(6)
- look through the code · Most common in tech—examining source code
- look through the logs · Checking system or error logs for issues
- look through the documentation · Reading docs to find information
- look through the PR · Reviewing a pull request
- look through the backlog · Examining pending tasks or tickets
- look through the requirements · Checking project specifications
Similar words(5)
- review · More formal, often used in official contexts like code review
- go through · Very similar, slightly more casual
- check · More casual, implies quick examination
- examine · More formal, implies careful inspection
- go over · Similar meaning, common in meetings
Opposites(4)
- skip
- ignore
- overlook
- skim
Questions(6)
- What does 'look through' mean in a code review?
- Look through means to examine the code carefully. When a colleague says they will look through your PR, they will read the changes and check for problems.
- Is 'look through' formal or casual?
- Look through is neutral. You can use it in standups, Slack messages, emails, and meetings. It works in both casual and professional contexts.
- What's the difference between 'look through' and 'review'?
- They mean the same thing, but 'review' is slightly more formal. 'Look through' is more conversational. Both are correct in tech workplaces.
- Can I say 'look through on something'?
- No. Do not add 'on' after 'look through.' Say 'look through the code,' not 'look through on the code.'
- How do I use 'look through' in a sentence?
- Use it with an object: 'I will look through the logs.' 'Can you look through this document?' The object comes directly after 'through.'
- Is 'look through' the same as 'skim'?
- No. Look through means careful examination. Skim means quick, surface-level reading. If you look through code, you check it thoroughly.
