a brief brief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brief brief" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a short summary or concise document that provides essential information. Example: "The manager requested a brief brief on the project's progress to share with the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"For whatever reason, I attract a lot of people," Trump mused in a brief (brief meaning seven-minute) chat last week.

The New York Times

Last September, she gave a brief brief to someone with the handle "BigFurHat" at IownTheWorld.Com, in which she crowed: Everybody in Cleveland got an Obamaphone … Keep Obama president, he gave us a phone!

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Having a newborn, there were a few moments of brief, brief happiness, and then followed by disappointment and sadness," Dr. Anna Hall, a marine biologist with the center, told CBC. "This is a population that is clearly struggling in terms of numbers".

Huffington Post

FROM THE BUSH BRIEF Brief for Petitioners On Dec. 4, 2000, this court unanimously vacated the Florida Supreme Court's Nov. 21 judicial revision of Florida's election laws.

The New York Times

We're only here for this brief, brief moment and I don't want to waste one precious moment in being average or mediocre.

Huffington Post

Think brief, briefer, briefest".

The New York Times - Style

I decided that my book had to be brief, briefer than my other books.

Vice

"Keep Those Briefs Brief, Literary Justices Advise" (Supreme Court Memo, May 21) manages to make the justices sound amusingly pretentious, but it achieves its fun at some cost to truth.

The New York Times

But most guys, shopping without guidance or extensive planning, just found a corner, faced away from the crowd, and dropped trou: boxers, boxer briefs, briefs, whatever.

The New York Times

"Boxers or briefs?" Briefs, in case you were curious.

Britannica

GOP senator on N. Korea briefing: Briefing lacked "even straight answers on what the policy is regarding N. Korea and its testing of ICBMs".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using more concise alternatives such as "concise summary" or "short overview" to avoid redundancy.

Common error

Avoid using phrases like "a brief brief" when a single adjective such as "concise" or "short" will suffice. Overuse of repetitive language can make your writing sound less professional and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief brief" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "brief" is repeated for emphasis. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct, but might benefit from a more concise alternative.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a brief brief" is grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, but it is relatively uncommon due to its redundant nature. It's used to emphasize extreme shortness or conciseness. While acceptable in neutral contexts like news and media, more concise alternatives such as "concise summary" or "short overview" are generally preferred, especially in formal writing. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts like describing moments, documents, or descriptions. Keep in mind the best use is usually in situations where the brevity really needs to be stressed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a concise summary

Replaces the repetition with a single adjective emphasizing brevity.

a short summary

Uses a simpler adjective to describe the summary's length.

a quick overview

Focuses on the speed and brevity of the information presented.

a concise outline

Highlights the structured and abbreviated nature of the content.

a succinct summary

Emphasizes the clear and concise nature of the summary.

a short report

Indicates the summarized information is presented in a formal document.

a brief synopsis

Uses a more formal word for summary, still emphasizing brevity.

a condensed version

Indicates the original content has been shortened and refined.

a thumbnail sketch

Emphasizes that the summary is rough but gives main details.

a bird's-eye view

Implies an overview that captures the most important elements.

FAQs

Is "a brief brief" grammatically correct?

Yes, "a brief brief" is grammatically correct, although it can sound redundant. Consider using a single adjective like "concise" instead.

What does "a brief brief" mean?

The phrase "a brief brief" emphasizes that something is very short and to the point, like "a concise summary" or "a short overview".

When should I use "a brief brief"?

Use "a brief brief" when you want to emphasize the extreme shortness or conciseness of something. However, in most cases, a single adjective will be sufficient and sound less repetitive.

Are there alternatives to "a brief brief"?

Yes, alternatives to "a brief brief" include "a concise summary", "a short report", or "a quick overview". These options provide the same meaning without the repetition.