read over — to read something carefully from beginning to end
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to look through a piece of writing from start to finish to check for mistakes or to understand it better.
Say it like a native
Textbook Please peruse the document prior to signing.
Native Just read it over before you sign.
'Read over' is the everyday verb for checking through something; 'peruse' is formal.
Pattern: read over + noun/pronoun
In use
- I always read over my emails before sending them to make sure there are no mistakes.study
- Before the exam, I like to read over my notes to refresh my memory and feel more confident.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Can you read over it for me?
✓ Can you read it over for me?
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'read it over'.
Common collocations
read over + text— it over, your notes, the contract, the draft
Don't confuse it
'Read over' is about checking or reviewing, while 'read out' means to say the words aloud.