a brief clip

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brief clip" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a short video or audio segment. Example: "I watched a brief clip of the documentary that highlighted the main themes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's twenty-five minutes long, but here's a brief clip.

The New Yorker

The spot features a brief clip of the 1952 Disney short, "Susie the Little Blue Coupe".

The New York Times

In the video for Blue Jeans, Lana slips in a brief clip of Tupac.

The Guardian - Music

Here's a brief clip from the 2006 Hindi movie, Omkara, made by Vishal Bhardwaj.

The Guardian

Here's a brief clip from Wainwright Amateur Films of Pete talking about the UK media at his do last night.

The Guardian

The same bloodied man also appeared in a brief clip uploaded to YouTube by El Shorouk, which identified him as a police officer.

The New York Times

A brief clip flashed on the monitors, to show the free clinics that Oz has sponsored for thousands of patients throughout the country.

The New Yorker

For those of you who don't have tickets, the following is a brief clip of Jackson's rendition of the song in London last year.

The New Yorker

(May features a brief clip from his final film, "Charlie Wilson's War," which bears a surprising resemblance to a scene from "Ishtar").

The New Yorker

Pryor's unassailable strength of mind is present in every moment, no more so than in a brief clip from his later years.

The New York Times - Arts

A brief clip shown to the court on Monday saw Mr Brooks entering the underground car park clutching a Jiffy bag and, the prosecution claim, a laptop computer.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a brief clip", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the clip is from and why it's relevant to the discussion. For example, specify the source (e.g., "a brief clip from the movie") or its purpose (e.g., "a brief clip illustrating the main point").

Common error

Avoid using "a brief clip" without providing sufficient context, as it can leave the audience wondering about the clip's origin and significance. Always contextualize the clip's source or intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief clip" primarily functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "brief" modifies the noun "clip". Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in providing concise references to short segments of audio or video content.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief clip" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to denote a short segment of audio or video. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates it is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various communication styles. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to provide context about the clip's source or purpose. Alternatives like "a short excerpt" or "a quick snippet" can be used for variety, but "a brief clip" remains a straightforward and widely understood choice for referencing short media segments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short excerpt

Replaces "clip" with "excerpt", emphasizing a small portion taken from a larger work.

a short segment

Uses "segment" as a substitute for "clip", highlighting a part of something.

a quick snippet

Employs "snippet" to suggest a small, often interesting piece.

a short video

Specifies the medium as "video", focusing on visual content.

a short audio recording

Specifies the medium as "audio recording", focusing on audio content.

a small portion

Replaces "clip" with "portion", emphasizing the size and part of something.

a quick glimpse

Uses "glimpse" to indicate a brief or fleeting view.

a short take

Employs "take" to emphasize that the segment comes directly from a media recording, such as from film production.

a short reel

Substitutes "reel" suggesting a film segment.

a brief visual

Focuses on it being a visual segment.

FAQs

How can I use "a brief clip" in a sentence?

You can use "a brief clip" to refer to a short segment of video or audio, such as "The news report included "a brief clip" from the president's speech" or "The documentary featured "a brief clip" of the band's performance".

What can I say instead of "a brief clip"?

You can use alternatives like "a short excerpt", "a quick snippet", or "a short segment" depending on the specific context and medium you are referring to.

Is it correct to say "a briefly clip" instead of "a brief clip"?

No, "a briefly clip" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "a brief clip", where "brief" is an adjective describing the noun "clip". "Briefly" is an adverb and would not be appropriate in this context.

What is the difference between "a brief clip" and "a short film"?

"A brief clip" refers to a small segment of a larger video or audio, while "a short film" is a complete, self-contained film that is short in length. A clip is part of something bigger, while a short film stands alone.