a bit of a second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bit of a second" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used informally to refer to a brief moment or pause, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "Can you give me a bit of a second to think about my response?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"To us this came as a bit of a second wind," he says.

The Guardian - Sport

Townsend caught a bit of a second wind, taking a 3-1 leat athehe start of the third set.

The New York Times

In the last couple of months, Mr. Nader's campaign has enjoyed a bit of a second wind with what the Nader campaign has called "super rallies" in cities like Boston, Chicago and Seattle, which have attracted more than 10,000 people each time out.

The New York Times

The move obviously bolsters the Kindle's value as a "kids ebook" solution and allows the Potter books to gain a bit of a second wind thanks to renewed interest.

TechCrunch

Instead of simply treating the app as something that serves as a bit of a second screen, it shows the company is willing to explore new kinds of form factors and potential platforms to get the best of Twitter in front of as many people as possible.

TechCrunch

When someone lies, they usually pause for a bit of a second before answering a question.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Could Swift be a bit of a second-wave, sex-positive feminist?

The Guardian - Music

The Daily Telegraph suggests he needs to be careful not to be remembered "as untrustworthy and a bit of a second-rater".

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's a bit of a first.

The New York Times

John Harrison is a bit of a third wheel.

The Guardian - Film

Jackman says surviving on £10 a day was "a bit of a first-world problem to have".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to convey a short period of time, avoid the phrase "a bit of a second". Instead, opt for clearer alternatives such as "a moment" or "a brief pause".

Common error

Avoid using "a bit of a second" when precision is needed. It's more appropriate to say "a millisecond" or "a nanosecond" to convey smaller intervals of time accurately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bit of a second" attempts to quantify a very short duration but does so in a non-standard way. Standard English prefers more precise or conventional terms for brevity. Ludwig AI notes this phrase as uncommon.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a bit of a second" appears in some informal contexts, it is not considered grammatically correct or standard English. Ludwig AI indicates its non-standard nature, which is also reflected in the limited number of examples found. For clear and effective communication, it is advisable to use alternatives such as "a brief moment", "a short pause", or "a moment" instead. These alternatives offer greater clarity and are widely accepted in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief moment

Replaces "a bit of" with "a brief" to emphasize brevity.

a short pause

Substitutes "second" with "pause" to focus on a temporary halt.

a moment

Simplifies the phrase by removing "bit of a" for conciseness.

a short time

Replaces "second" with the more general term "time".

a little while

Uses "little while" to indicate a brief duration.

a small interval

Offers a slightly more formal alternative to "a bit of a second".

a quick instant

Combines "quick" and "instant" to stress immediacy.

a split second

Indicates a very brief, almost instantaneous moment.

a fleeting moment

Emphasizes the transient nature of the moment.

just a sec

Uses a colloquial abbreviation of "second" for informality.

FAQs

What does "a bit of a second" mean?

The phrase "a bit of a second" is not standard English. It attempts to describe a short period of time, but clearer alternatives exist.

What can I say instead of "a bit of a second"?

You can use alternatives like "a brief moment", "a short pause", or "a moment" depending on the context.

Is "a bit of a second" grammatically correct?

No, "a bit of a second" is not grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is not standard.

How to use "a moment" instead of "a bit of a second" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "Give me a bit of a second", you can say "Give me a moment to consider your request".