You should look up in a dictionary. vs You should look it up in a dictionary.

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'You should look up in a dictionary.' is not a common phrase in English, as it lacks a specific object to look up. On the other hand, 'You should look it up in a dictionary.' is a more common and complete phrase, where 'it' refers to a specific thing to be looked up.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 1614 views

This phrase is grammatically correct but not commonly used in English as it lacks a specific object to look up.

"You should look up in a dictionary."

This phrase could be used in a context where the object to look up is implied or known.

Show examples from the web [+]

If you don't know the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.
If you don't know the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.
"I must look that up in a dictionary."
First of all, you must look it up in the dictionary.
You should really look up the word "boring" in a dictionary.
When you come across new words, you must look them up in your dictionary.
Look it up in the dictionary.
Seriously, you can... you can look it up in the dictionary.
In other words, unlike the word hope, which one could look up in a dictionary and derive origins for, and, perhaps, reach some kind of a consensual use analysis, these are essentially contested concepts.
- Did you look up "black" in a dictionary?
We're looking up money laundering in a dictionary.
I can't believe what a bunch of nerds we are, looking up "money laundering" in a dictionary.
Okay, so most of you think of Google as something that lets you look up a webpage, but it is also a dictionary.
Maybe instead of a table, you should buy a dictionary.
We use a dictionary to look up the meaning of words.
Look up the definition of 'guy' in your dictionary.
Look up the words in your dictionary.
In a dictionary like this one there should be at least two sentences with "fridge".
And when I did, I thought, well, I'd better look this word up in the dictionary.
Kishibe, what would you think if there were errors in a dictionary?

Alternatives:

You should look it up in a dictionary.
You should look up the word in a dictionary.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, as 'it' refers to a specific thing to be looked up.

"You should look it up in a dictionary."

This phrase is used when referring to a specific item or information that needs to be searched for in a dictionary.

Show examples from the web [+]

If you don't know the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.
If you don't know the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.
First of all, you must look it up in the dictionary.
"I must look that up in a dictionary."
Look it up in the dictionary.
Seriously, you can... you can look it up in the dictionary.
When you come across new words, you must look them up in your dictionary.
You should really look up the word "boring" in a dictionary.
We're looking up money laundering in a dictionary.
I can't believe what a bunch of nerds we are, looking up "money laundering" in a dictionary.
In other words, unlike the word hope, which one could look up in a dictionary and derive origins for, and, perhaps, reach some kind of a consensual use analysis, these are essentially contested concepts.
You should look it up sometime.
Maybe you should look it up.
You should look it up sometime.
Maybe instead of a table, you should buy a dictionary.
- Did you look up "black" in a dictionary?
You should look it up. No, i-it's okay.
Have you got any sort of Cyber-Internet in there because, really, you should look it up.
Look it up in the dictionary, under fragile.
Okay, so most of you think of Google as something that lets you look up a webpage, but it is also a dictionary.

Alternatives:

You should look up the word in a dictionary.
You should check it in a dictionary.
You should search for it in a dictionary.
You should consult a dictionary for it.

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You should look up in a dictionary. vs You should look it up in a dictionary.