überlesen

Überlesen is a German verb formed by the prefix über- and lesen (to read). It has two related meanings connected to reading: to read over a text in a superficial way (to skim) and to miss or overlook something in a text due to inattention.

In the sense of skimming, überlesen describes a quick, shallow engagement with the material rather than a thorough reading. In the sense of overlooking, it denotes failing to notice a detail or issue while reading. The two senses are often reflected in context, and the choice between verbs such as überlesen, überfliegen (to skim briefly), or übersehen (to miss) depends on nuance. The verb is separable-prefix in the present tense: ich lese den Text über; the perfect is formed with haben: ich habe den Text überlesen.

Typical usage includes both readings and overlooking. For example: Ich habe den Absatz nur überlesen (I only skimmed over the paragraph). Ich habe in dem Vertrag eine Klausel überlesen (I overlooked a clause in the contract). The noun das Überlesen refers to the act of skimming or overlooking.

Etymology: das Überlesen derives from über- (over, across) and lesen (to read), conveying reading across a text either superficially or inattentively. The term is common in editing, scholarship, and everyday reading, where precision matters and small details may be missed.