a brief account of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a brief account of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when summarizing a topic in shorter form, for example: "This paper provides a brief account of the history of the European Union."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Taylor gave a brief account of what happened at the parade on Sunday.

The New York Times

Leavitt's book is basically a brief account of the expat life of the city.

The New York Times - Books

She left a brief account of her life with him in an interview with Marek Kedzierski.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

At the end of 2015, she posted a brief account of her year.

The New Yorker

In March, Meserole and McCants published a brief account of their findings in Foreign Affairs.

The New Yorker

Dr. Schaller gave a brief account of the giant panda's history, and then told about some of its problems.

The New Yorker

It is a brief account of the rise of Allach, the German porcelain factory that was Himmler's pet project.

The Guardian - Books

Giovanni's companion, Benedict the Pole, also left a brief account of the mission, taken down from his dictation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After reading about the reactions to the collision in the newspaper, Gray closed the door to her office and wrote a brief account of her own accident.

The New Yorker

A brief account of eloping in Rome is charming — but then he retreats, archly, declaring almost everything else about his family off the record.

The New York Times - Books

So he set up a no-frills Web page with a brief account of what happened, and posted the pictures of the girl and her family.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a brief account of", ensure that the content remains comprehensive enough to convey essential information, even if it's short.

Common error

Avoid making "a brief account of" so concise that it omits crucial details, which could lead to misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief account of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a summary or description. It sets the expectation that what follows will be a concise overview of a topic, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a brief account of" is a versatile and frequently used expression to introduce a concise summary or overview. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic entries. While synonyms like "a short description of" or "a concise summary of" exist, the key is to maintain clarity and avoid oversimplification. Its neutral register makes it a reliable choice for professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short description of

Replaces "account" with "description", emphasizing the descriptive aspect.

a concise summary of

Substitutes "brief account" with "concise summary", stressing brevity and completeness.

a quick overview of

Uses "quick overview" to suggest a fast and general presentation of the topic.

a succinct outline of

Replaces with "succinct outline", highlighting the structured arrangement of information.

a compact report on

Changes "account" to "report", indicating a more formal and structured summary.

a thumbnail sketch of

Offers a more informal and visually oriented alternative to "brief account".

an abridged version of

Indicates that the account is a shortened form of a longer original.

a condensed explanation of

Focuses on providing a simplified explanation, rather than just a narrative.

a streamlined narration of

Highlights the narrative aspect, while emphasizing efficiency and lack of unnecessary details.

a digest of

Suggests a compilation of the most important pieces of information

FAQs

How can I use "a brief account of" in a sentence?

You can use "a brief account of" to introduce a short summary or description, like in "This section offers a brief account of the history of the company."

What are some alternatives to saying "a brief account of"?

Alternatives include "a short description of", "a concise summary of", or "a quick overview of", depending on the context.

Is "a brief account of" formal or informal?

"A brief account of" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing a neutral tone that works well in various writing styles.

How does "a brief account of" differ from "a detailed explanation of"?

"A brief account of" implies a short, concise summary, while "a detailed explanation of" suggests a thorough, comprehensive analysis. The choice depends on the depth of information you intend to convey.