Go over means to look at something carefully, check it or review it (notes, a document, a plan). You use it when you work through material closely to find mistakes or refresh your memory: “go over your notes before the test”. With “to”, it means to walk up to someone or to visit them at home.
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go over + noun/it; go over something with + person; go over to + person/place
- Our manager went over the new safety rules with everyone on Monday morning.
- I always go over my essay one last time to catch small spelling mistakes.
- I went over to the reception desk and asked about late checkout.
What changed
First versionThe night before the test, I repeated my notes twice.
RevisionThe night before the test, I went over my notes twice.
“Repeat” means to say or do something again, so “repeated my notes” sounds as if you copied your notes out again or read them aloud. Reviewing material before a test is “go over”, and in British English also “revise”. That is why “went over” replaces “repeated”.
With “to”, the meaning changes: She went over to the window means she walked to the window; I'm going over to Anna's after work means the speaker will visit Anna. If “go over” is followed by a document or a plan, it is about checking; if it is followed by “to” and a person or place, it is about moving.
Your turn
I've finished the contract. Could you ___ before I send it to the client?
Show the answer
go over it — In the sense of “review”, “go over” is not split: the pronoun “it” comes after the whole phrase, “go over it”. Putting the pronoun in the middle works for verbs like “let down” (“let me down”), but not for “go over”.
Imagine you are preparing for an important meeting or exam. Write what exactly you will go over beforehand and with whom.
Before my performance review, I'll go over last year's goals with my team leader.
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