Take a look means to look at something, often in order to check or assess it. Take a look at the report means to read through the report; take a look at the engine means to examine it and find the problem. In British English, people often say have a look with the same meaning.
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take a look + at + something; take a quick/closer look at; take a look around + place
- Could you take a look at my CV before I send it?
- Let's take a closer look at the figures before the meeting.
- We had an hour before our train, so we took a quick look around the old town.
What changed
First versionCan you take a look on my essay before Friday?
RevisionCan you take a look at my essay before Friday?
On is a common mistake here. In English, a look is always directed at something: take a look at, look at.
Take a look means looking at something to form an opinion: a letter, a report, an engine. If you follow what happens over a period of time, you need watch: We watched the whole match. Take a closer look means to examine something more carefully: Let's take a closer look at the contract.
Your turn
I've finished my cover letter. Could you ___ it and tell me if anything sounds strange?
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take a look at — Asking someone to read and assess a letter calls for take a look at. See means “notice” or “become aware of”, and it isn't used with a text in the sense of “look through and check”.
Ask a colleague or classmate to check your work. Say what exactly they should look at and by when.
Could you take a look at my project report by Thursday? I'm not sure the introduction is clear.
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