turn up or check in

Question

I hope you don't mind I ........... every once in a while,I keep wondering if you two boys are alright and not fighting.A) set upB) make upC) check inD) turn upE) live upI guess both "C" and "D" work here. However,  a native comment would be much more decisive.

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Anon,

I hope you don't mind if I ........... every once in a while – I keep wondering if you two boys are alright and not fighting.

[Edited slightly – MrP]

If I "turn up" at a meeting, I haven't been present at that meeting previously. If I "turn up" at your birthday party, it's the first time you've seen me all evening. And if something unexpected "turns up", it hasn't been present before.

"Checking in", on the other hand, can sustain the idea of multiple visits: it implies "notifying of one's presence", as when a taxi driver "checks in" with his control centre, to notify them that he's free again. (In this case, if the mother is speaking, for instance, she may be putting her head round the door every few minutes.)

There is a slight element of polite irony in the phrase, in this context: the speaker really means "check", as in "check up on"; but by saying "check in", he makes it seem as if he must report to the boys at regular intervals. It thus deflects the implication of "spying".

MrP

CalifJim · Answer

I hope you don't mind if I check on you two boys every once in while.
I keep wondering if you are all right and not fighting.

With just a comma, it has the error known as "comma splice".
all right, not alright.

Not the best test item in the world, but choose C.

CJ

turn up or check in

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions