These words refer to giving less than full attention or effort to a demanding task. Cursory , the most formal of these words, is also both the most specific and most inclusive, as well, referring to a deliberately rushed or shallow treatment: rejecting the manuscript after a cursory glance at it; only a cursory attempt to keep in mind the requirements of his clients. The other words here all emphasize one aspect of cursory . Careless suggests that the poor performance results from sloppiness and inattention to details: so careless as to render her best efforts cursory . Hasty , by contrast, emphasizes a refusal or inability to spend the time necessary to a more adequate performance: after a hasty thumbing through the pamphlet of instruction; a hasty consideration of the merits of the case. Slapdash approaches cursory in inclusiveness since it combines the implication of both careless and hasty , suggesting a sloppy, rushed performance: trying to work from a slapdash sketch instead of a painstakingly executed blueprint.

Superficial limits cursory to a refusal or inability to look into the deeper meanings or complexities of something: a superficial analysis of the poem; superficial competence that could hardly face any serious challenge. Superficial is in sharp contrast to careless and hasty , since one might give adequate care and time to an effort and still come up with a superficial result. Most often in fact, superficial suggests an inability to do better and thus contrasts with all these words when they imply a deliberate refusal to meet the demands of something. Scant , in this context, refers specifically to brevity of effort: paying scant attention to his class assignments. This word differs from hasty , however, in emphasizing a short amount of time rather than work done too rapidly. One might have a great deal of time and still do hasty work; conversely, one might work methodically in the scant time allotted a task. Only in cursory are both the tendencies necessarily combined.