skim over a newspaper vs skim over the newspaper

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Skim over a newspaper' is more general and can refer to skimming over any newspaper, while 'skim over the newspaper' is more specific and refers to skimming over a particular newspaper that has been previously mentioned.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 670 views

skim over a newspaper

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when referring to the action of quickly reading through or looking at the contents of a newspaper without going into detail. It is a general statement that can apply to any newspaper.

Examples:

I like to skim over a newspaper in the morning to catch up on the news.
She would often skim over a newspaper during her lunch break.

Show examples from the web [+]

This is not your drawing room where you can chill out over a newspaper.
For the past three years, Julia's helped Ponces skim over $100 million to profits owed US oil companies producing Venezuelan oil.
Skims over the handwriting, minute and precise.
Those who merely skim over the forms and sign them without thinking and without close examination can be unpleasantly surprised how dearly it will cost them.
Father bought a newspaper in France.
I found her through a newspaper ad.
A newspaper column this morning about police mishandlings...
They should've known Rushworth would bring in a newspaper man.
I sent him out to get a newspaper.
You know, for a newspaper man, you are shockingly naive.
I've never been in a newspaper before.
And instead of a country, she has a newspaper.
Try reading a newspaper, Hal.
And get Loker over to a newspaper sharpish.
I have no need for a newspaper.
Before you went in for writing novels, you were a newspaper man.
One day, a newspaper arrives from Copenhagen.
I was circulation manager for a newspaper.
They're from a newspaper or magazine.
There is a newspaper, the Cambridge Herald.

Alternatives:

skim through a newspaper
glance through a newspaper
browse a newspaper quickly
scan a newspaper
flip through a newspaper

skim over the newspaper

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when referring to the action of quickly reading through or looking at the contents of a specific newspaper that has been previously mentioned or is known to the speaker and listener.

Examples:

After finishing breakfast, he would skim over the newspaper to see if there were any interesting articles.
She decided to skim over the newspaper to find the crossword puzzle.

Show examples from the web [+]

Skims over the handwriting, minute and precise.
Those who merely skim over the forms and sign them without thinking and without close examination can be unpleasantly surprised how dearly it will cost them.
When we got home, we were all over the newspaper.
It's all over the newspaper, miss.
Yeah. It was exploded all over the front page of the newspaper.
Stark took over the newspapers and radio stations.
He and Lois used to live in this one-room place over the newspaper office.
There are loads of them all over the newspapers, and if I recall, you yourself.
The newspaper report stated: 'During flights over the Aegean, an order would have been given to harass Greek airforce planes in order to create a climate of confrontation.
So, we won, and it was all over the newspapers.
Did you read the book or you just skim over the book? ... to find the answer to the question that you were looking for?
He was all over the newspapers, the television, asked a lot of questions.
It's still all over the newspapers, the Web...
The debate over the dramatic story of the death of Marie Trintignant, that appeared in the newspapers this summer, can either strengthen or weaken this notion.
It's all over the newspaper; The city's in a panic.
For the past three years, Julia's helped Ponces skim over $100 million to profits owed US oil companies producing Venezuelan oil.
The information published in the newspaper Il Giornale (edition of 22.3.2006) leads one to believe that the European Union financed the construction of the new airport in Athens to the tune of EUR 250000000 over the period 1996-2004, via the Cohesion Fund.
In an interview with the newspaper La Tribune on Wednesday, 5 July, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan stated that Turkey would have great need of additional sources of energy over the next 5 to 10 years, and that not only France was in the running.
Extent of having trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television, over the last 2 weeks
It's disgusting the way they splash this stuff all over the newspapers!

Alternatives:

skim through the newspaper
glance through the newspaper
browse the newspaper quickly
scan the newspaper
flip through the newspaper

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skim over a newspaper vs skim over the newspaper