Are both the same meaning and interchangeable?

Question

I can't figure out the difference between "check up" and "check up on". Are both the same meaning and interchangeable?

1. check up the fact / check up on the fact

2. check up one's health / check up on one's health

3. check up one's record / check up on one's record

4. check up a few things before deciding / check up on a few things before deciding

......

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

thanks3Are both the same meaning and interchangeable?

Almost nothing is.

thanks31. check up the fact / check up on the fact

Neither one works. You check a fact. It's called fact-checking.

thanks32. check up one's health / check up on one's health

Neither one works. You go to the doctor for a checkup, and he checks your health.

thanks33. check up one's record / check up on one's record

I don't know what this is supposed to mean, but neither one is possible.

thanks34. check up a few things before deciding / check up on a few things before deciding

Neither one works. You check a few things before deciding.

"To check something up" is not possible. "To check up on someone" is to find out whether they are misbehaving.

CalifJim · Answer

thanks3I can't figure out the difference between "check up" and "check up on".

Don't feel like The Lone Ranger. The use of the verb "check" is not easy. There are several forms, e.g., "check the", "check on the", and "check up on the". Often 'up' and/or 'on' are optional.

I did some preliminary research online to see what people were writing so I could at least make a stab at explaining it, and this is what I found:

check the ...

A for-phrase is not uncommon in this category.

Check the wiring connectors for signs of wear.
(make sure the connectors are all right)

The laboratory assistants had to check the temperature every 30 minutes.
(record, note, or look at the temperature; make sure the temperature was correct)

Remind consumers to check the manufacturer's recommendation for changing oil. (find out; read)

check up the ... [not used]

check (up) on the ...

These can connote concern for the well-being of someone or the supervision of someone to be sure no wrongdoing is involved. The addition of 'up' skews the meaning more toward supervision. Note that the noun that follows refers to an animate being.

Someone should check (up) on the cantankerous old lady. (concern)
Laura stopped by to check (up) on the sick little cat. (concern)
I'm going to check (up) on the children in a few minutes. (supervise; concern)
The foreman returned to check (up) on the mechanic. (supervise; concern)

check (up on) the ...

Note that here and in the following category the noun that follows refers to an inanimate thing or an abstraction.

I was instructed to check (up on) the warehouse receipts.
(verify accuracy)
We'll check (up on) the breathing and monitoring equipment. (verify proper functioning)
We should allow the public to check (up on) the veracity of government statistics. (verify)
Did you check (up on) the condition of the building? (verify; find out)
The zoologists checked (up on) the source of the information. (verify; find out)

check ((up) on) the ... = [check the / check on the / check up on the]

You can use our website to check ((up) on) the status of your application. (verify; find out)
It may be necessary to check ((up) on) the details of the work. (verify; find out)

Hopefully, you will be able to make some sense of all these examples.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

1. check up the fact / check up on the fact

2. check up one's health / check up on one's health

3. check up one's record / check up on one's record

4. check up a few things before deciding / check up on a few things before deciding

"check up the" is not possible. "check up a few" is not possible either. It's basically the same pattern as "check up the". In other words a direct object is impossible after "check up". Only "check" by itself can take a direct object, and the direct object is virtually never a person.

CJ

Are both the same meaning and interchangeable?

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