looking at their phones vs looking through their phones

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and contexts. 'Looking at their phones' implies that people are simply viewing the screens of their phones, while 'looking through their phones' suggests that people are searching or browsing through the contents of their phones.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 922 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"looking at their phones"

This phrase is used to describe the action of people observing or viewing the screens of their phones.

Examples:

During the meeting, everyone was looking at their phones instead of paying attention.
She caught him looking at his phone during the movie.
I saw a group of teenagers looking at their phones in the park.

Show examples from the web [+]

Too Many Pedestrians Injured by Looking at Their Phones. by Stateline | December 11, 2014. By Tim Henderson. They walk in front of cars, and into tree limbs ...
Jun 9, 2015 ... 2. Field Tripp - EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE 03:44. buy track. 3. Andy Warpigs - Everybody's looking at their phones 03:38.
1 day ago ... Borussia Dortmund set to decrease internet speed at stadium to stop fans looking at their phones. Will Giles for Metro.co.ukFriday 14 Aug 2015 ...
May 9, 2014 ... If that's the case, asking guests why they keep looking at their phones instead of engaging with the party will either set your mind at ease ...

Alternatives:

glancing at their phones
staring at their phones
checking their phones
scrolling through their phones
using their phones

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"looking through their phones"

This phrase is used to describe the action of people searching or browsing through the contents of their phones.

Examples:

She was looking through her phone to find the address.
He spent hours looking through his phone for the lost photos.
The detective was looking through the suspect's phone for evidence.

Show examples from the web [+]

Apr 20, 2010 ... Many focus group teens reported parents looking through their phones and the loss of the phone as a punishment. “I'll be, like, my mom goes ...
Jan 2, 2008 ... Now I see people looking through their phones in order to frame a painting or a detail. It's the way they stand with the camera/phone not to their ...
Mar 20, 2012 ... Benny Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS No I don't think police should be aloud to search cell phones with out a warrant. I feel this way because ...
Jul 26, 2013 ... ... to view the who-texts-first issue as gender-neutral, and they're also more comfortable with significant others looking through their phones.

Alternatives:

searching through their phones
browsing through their phones
scanning through their phones
going through their phones
checking their phones

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looking at their phones vs looking through their phones