durchlesen

Durchlesen is a German verb meaning to read through something completely or to read from start to finish. It is formed from durch- (through) and lesen (to read). The corresponding noun form is das Durchlesen, referring to the act of reading through a text.

Grammatically, durchlesen is a separable-prefix verb. In present tense forms, the prefix separates: ich lese durch, du liest durch, er liest durch, etc. The past participle is durchgelesen and is used with haben: ich habe den Bericht durchgelesen. In the simple past, one can say: ich las den Bericht durch.

Usage and nuance: durchlesen emphasizes thoroughness and completeness, often to check for errors, consistency, or understanding. It is common in contexts such as contracts, reports, or lengthy texts. The verb can be combined with adverbs like sorgfältig or gründlich: sorgfältig durchlesen, gründlich durchlesen.

Examples:

- Ich lese den Vertrag durch. (I am reading through the contract.)

- Sie hat den Text gründlich durchgelesen. (She read the text thoroughly.)

- Bitte lesen Sie den Bericht durch. (Please read through the report.)

Related terms include durchlesen lassen meaning to have someone read something through, and Korrekturlesen, which specifically refers to proofreading. Antonyms or contrasts include überlesen (to miss or skim over something) and kurz lesen (to read briefly). Das Durchlesen as a noun refers to the act itself, e.g., Das Durchlesen des Berichts war notwendig vor der Unterzeichnung.