a brief digression

USAGE SUMMARY

"a brief digression" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate a short departure from the main topic to provide additional information or context. For example, "Before we continue, I’d like to make a brief digression about the history of this topic." Alternative expressions include "a short aside" and "a quick tangent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

O.K., a brief digression: the Federal Reserve doesn't actually print money (the Treasury does that).

The New York Times

One of the supreme achievements of 19th-century mathematics was the prime number theorem, and it is worth a brief digression.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A brief digression about crafting; Firor says Skyrim players should expect a familiar system, and also mentions the ability to enchant weapons.

The Guardian - Tech

After a brief digression to defend the firing, last summer, of James Comey, the F.B.I. director — "Well, I turned out to do the right thing" — the President repeated, "So we'll see what happens".

The New Yorker

In a brief digression on laughter, Valentine explained how he'd identified 12 stimuli that made his kids chuckle, ranging from tickling, mild shock and mere repetition, to teasing, incongruity and the sight of a bright or pleasing object.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Then, after a brief digression, he admitted that he was "still sore" that Vance had resigned in April 1980 over the decision to try to rescue the Americans held hostage in Iran.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The Telegraph felt she was "never better" but Variety described her character's storyline as "a brief narrative digression in which Malick seems at least as interested in the horses on Jane's ranch as he is in the woman herself".

Wikipedia

(Brief digression: It's interesting how often a particular patient, vividly remembered, sparks a researcher's efforts.

The New York Times

It's as if the entire novel moves in the ghostly shadows of that brief digression.

The Guardian

Let us return to the proof after the above brief digression.

Advances in Difference Equations

But outside of his brief digression on collusion, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Manafort and Cohen barely seemed to register.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a brief digression" to signal a short, intentional departure from your main topic to provide context or related information, helping to maintain clarity and engagement.

Common error

Avoid frequent or lengthy digressions; too many can distract readers and obscure your main argument. Ensure each digression is relevant and contributes meaningfully to the overall discussion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a brief digression" is to serve as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It introduces a short, intentional deviation from the main topic. Ludwig AI confirms its role in guiding the reader through related but non-essential information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

21%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief digression" is a noun phrase used to signal a short, intentional departure from the main topic to provide related information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for formal writing. It is commonly found in News & Media and Science, serving the purpose of informing and contextualizing the main subject. When using this phrase, ensure digressions are relevant and contribute meaningfully to the overall discussion, as overuse can distract readers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short detour

Replaces 'digression' with 'detour', implying a slight deviation from the main path.

a quick tangent

Uses 'tangent' instead of 'digression', suggesting a sudden change in subject.

a small aside

Substitutes 'digression' with 'aside', indicating a remark that is not directly related to the main subject.

a momentary deviation

Replaces 'brief digression' with 'momentary deviation', emphasizing the temporary nature of the departure.

a passing note

Uses 'passing note' to suggest a quick, often less formal, interruption.

a short interlude

Replaces 'digression' with 'interlude', implying a break or pause.

a fleeting divergence

Substitutes 'brief' with 'fleeting' and 'digression' with 'divergence', highlighting the brief and deviating nature.

a quick excursus

Uses 'excursus' which, like 'digression', refers to a temporary departure, but is slightly more formal.

a side note

A more informal way to indicate a digression, suggesting it's just additional information.

a incidental remark

Substitutes 'brief' with 'incidental' and 'digression' with 'remark' emphasizes the minor, almost unplanned, nature of the departure.

FAQs

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

You can introduce related but non-essential information with "a brief digression", signaling a temporary departure from the main topic. For example, "Before discussing the main points, let's have "a brief digression" about the history of the topic".

What are some alternatives to saying "a brief digression"?

Alternatives include "a short detour", "a quick tangent", or "a small aside", each conveying a slightly different nuance of a temporary departure from the main subject.

Is it acceptable to use "a brief digression" in formal writing?

Yes, "a brief digression" is suitable for formal writing when used sparingly and purposefully to provide relevant context or clarification without disrupting the flow of the main argument.

What distinguishes "a brief digression" from other types of asides?

"A brief digression" implies a short and intentional deviation from the main topic, whereas other asides might be longer, unplanned, or less directly related to the primary subject. Think of it as a quick but purposeful detour.