There are several synonyms that can be used instead of the phrase "he ran a rapid eye over the papers". Some examples include: - He quickly scanned the documents. - He briefly perused the pages. - He rapidly glanced through the papers. - He speedily skimmed the pages. - He rapidly reviewed the documents. - He quickly assessed the papers. - He briefly looked through the pages. - He rapidly inspected the documents. - He swiftly checked over the papers. - He rapidly examined the pages. Overall, there are many ways to convey the same idea, and choosing the right synonym can help add variety and interest to your writing.