a brief duration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brief duration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a short period of time for an event or action. Example: "The meeting will only last for a brief duration, so please be on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Our initial method of tackling the problem was to disable external interrupts for a brief duration while emitting the pulse.

Cornell University

The effect is produced by illuminating the two halves of a circular patch consecutively for a brief duration.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When a breach occurs, everyone is interested in information security for a brief duration — from the incident response and mitigation teams to public relations.

Forbes

We investigate detection and localisation performance for a single mass in unilateral mammograms presented centrally for a brief duration and then masked.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

The headache was stabbing in nature and localized around the left eye with a brief duration, typically from 3 to 10 s.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Not necessarily, for the Extensional approach is perfectly compatible with version of Presentism which grant to the present a brief duration.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Also in the "Context" condition there was a longer duration of the Microstate 4 (the first state showing difference in activation between different classes of stimuli; p = 0.01; see Figure 3A C) and a briefer duration of the Microstate 5 for grasping motor acts relative to simple contact actions (p = 0.03; see Figure 3C).

Plosone

Namely, a brief-duration (30 ms) subthreshold depolarization was induced in a single MSN a few milliseconds before (post-pre sequence) or after (pre-post sequence) a cortical afferent stimulation (100 paired stimulations at 1 Hz) (Fig. 2A).

Plosone

Whilst blockade for 200 ms commands was significantly greater than that for 10 ms commands (p < 0.02), the occurrence of some blockade with only a very brief duration depolarizing command is concordant with either a very rapidly developing gating-dependent blockade on depolarization or with a contribution of closed-channel block to the overall effect of doxepin [25,29,36].

Biochemical Pharmacology

Correctly set APRV has a very brief duration at expiration (time at low pressure (T Low )) and extended inspiratory duration (time at high pressure (T High )) [17].

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Instead of using unlimited stimulus duration as in the previous studies, our observers were presented stimuli for a very brief duration (200 ms).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a clinical trial or study, use "a brief duration" to specify the length of an intervention or observation period.

Common error

Avoid using "a brief duration" in casual conversation. Simpler phrases like "a short time" or "a moment" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief duration" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an adjective-noun combination modifying another element in the sentence. It describes the temporal extent of an event, state, or condition. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

16%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a brief duration" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a short period of time. Ludwig highlights its frequent appearance in scientific, news, and academic contexts, indicating a formal to neutral register. While versatile, it's advisable to use simpler alternatives like "a short time" in casual conversation. Remember to consider the context when choosing between "a brief duration" and its related phrases for clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short period of time

Focuses on time as opposed to the more abstract concept of duration.

a short time

More concise alternative, omitting "period of".

a limited time

Highlights the restriction or finite nature of the time.

a temporary period

Highlights the non-permanent nature of the timeframe.

a fleeting moment

Emphasizes the transience and quick passing of the event.

a short interval

Suggests a pause or space in time that is not long.

a concise timeframe

Emphasizes the brevity and defined boundaries of the time.

a moment

Simplest form, denoting a very small amount of time.

a spell

Implies a continuous period, though short, dedicated to something.

a snap

An informal way to express brevity.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "a short period of time", "a limited time", or "a fleeting moment depending on the context.

How is "a brief duration" used in scientific writing?

In scientific contexts, "a brief duration" is often used to describe the length of experiments, observations, or the effects of treatments, emphasizing the short-term nature of the event.

Is it appropriate to use "a brief duration" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "a brief duration" is more formal. In casual settings, consider using simpler alternatives such as "a short time" or "a moment".

What is the difference between "a brief duration" and "a short duration"?

The terms are largely interchangeable. "A short duration" is perhaps slightly more common, but both convey the same meaning of a limited time frame.