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Russkiy Bear Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Skim vs Scan. Subtleties, Not really synonyms?
I've looked up the words in a bunch of dictionaries and each one says something different.
As I understand they're kind of synonyms
I scanned the article for his name. - meaning I read it quickly to find a his name?
I scanned the article - meaning there's no information about what I looked for but still I looked for something particular such as a name, not just I read it quickly ?
I skimmed the the article - meaning I just read it quickly?
I skimmed the article to find his name - The structure of the sentence (mainly the prepositional phrase) comes into play and now it means the same as the first example?
Am I wrong? They're just synonyms?
As I understand they're kind of synonyms
I scanned the article for his name. - meaning I read it quickly to find a his name?
I scanned the article - meaning there's no information about what I looked for but still I looked for something particular such as a name, not just I read it quickly ?
I skimmed the the article - meaning I just read it quickly?
I skimmed the article to find his name - The structure of the sentence (mainly the prepositional phrase) comes into play and now it means the same as the first example?
Am I wrong? They're just synonyms?
Top answer
One problem is that "scan" is one of those bizarre words that are their own antonyms. The Usage Note in the American Heritage Dictionary tells all. It means both to read hastily and examine minutely.
- One problem is that "scan" is one of those bizarre words that are their own antonyms.
- The Usage Note in the American Heritage Dictionary tells all.
- It means both to read hastily and examine minutely.
- It has recently developed a third different, related sense to do with radar, that of broadly searching for a specific thing.
- To skim is to read superficially, very much like one of the senses of "scan", but without the implication of searching.
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2 Answers
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One problem is that "scan" is one of those bizarre words that are their own antonyms. The Usage Note in the American Heritage Dictionary tells all. It means both to read hastily and examine minutely. It has recently developed a third different, related sense to do with radar, that of broadly searching for a specific th
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I scanned the article for his name. - meaning I read it quickly to find a his name? Yes.
Scan is more used today for electronic devices that are used in FAX or copy machines. It moves a bright highly focused light over the whole page, and senses the intensity of the reflection.
If a human scans something, there is us
Scan is more used today for electronic devices that are used in FAX or copy machines. It moves a bright highly focused light over the whole page, and senses the intensity of the reflection.
If a human scans something, there is us
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