a brief examination of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brief examination of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a short analysis or review of a particular topic or subject matter. Example: "In this paper, I will provide a brief examination of the impact of climate change on global agriculture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

A brief examination of documents demonstrates that Aetna was hardly the only company that engaged in the practice.

The New York Times

After all, even a brief examination of the Muppet canon reveals a definite and longstanding liberal bias: The Muppet Movie (1979).

The Guardian - Film

A (brief) examination of the relevant Lloyds disclosures appears to suggest that it has very limited vulnerability in this area, so unless the actual FCA review is quite different in scope, Lloyds should have little to fear.

The Guardian - Business

A brief examination of a discussion titled "The arbiter nexus" on the English Chess Forum provides a flavour of these decades-long battles; some of these men – and they are all men – make dozens of posts every day, fighting ferociously to win the argument.

The Guardian - Sport

It is plain from a brief examination of the data available that blowing your whistle in the final of Uefa's most prestigious club tournament is likely to bring down on your head a curse so vile that even Wayne Rooney, Neil Warnock and Barry Fry would be unable to match it, even if they were locked in a room all summer with a dictionary, a thesaurus and Rob Stiles.

The Guardian - Sport

We conclude this paper with a brief examination of Theorem 3.1.

Boundary Value Problems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

8 The MMSE 9 is a widely used instrument to define cognitive impairment and consists of a brief examination including 11 questions.

Clinical interventions in aging

Here we shall confine ourselves to a brief examination.

SEP

Following a brief examination, a nurse suggested we check my father in for further review.

Vice

From this brief examination of data, we can see that interviewees operate with a complex system of embryo classification.

Human Reproduction

Our brief examination of memetics illustrated this concern.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a brief examination of" when you want to introduce a concise analysis or review of a topic, signaling to the reader that the treatment will be focused and not overly detailed.

Common error

Avoid using "a brief examination of" if your analysis is actually in-depth. This phrase sets an expectation of brevity, and misleading your audience can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief examination of" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a concise analysis, review, or inspection of a particular topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and commonly used. It sets the expectation of a short overview rather than an exhaustive study.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief examination of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that introduces a concise analysis or review. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in science and news media, signaling a focused overview rather than an exhaustive study. When using this phrase, ensure the scope of your analysis aligns with the expectation of brevity to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a quick analysis of

Replaces "examination" with "analysis" and "brief" with "quick", emphasizing speed and efficiency.

a short review of

Substitutes "examination" with "review" and "brief" with "short", suggesting a summary overview.

a cursory look at

Uses "cursory look" instead of "brief examination", implying a less detailed inspection.

a preliminary assessment of

Replaces "examination" with "assessment" and "brief" with "preliminary", indicating an initial evaluation.

a concise study of

Uses "concise study" instead of "brief examination", emphasizing the focused nature of the investigation.

a superficial investigation of

Employs "superficial investigation" instead of "brief examination", suggesting a surface-level inquiry.

a passing glance at

Replaces the original phrase with one indicating a very quick and perhaps incomplete view.

a snapshot of

This alternative uses a metaphor to suggest a quick, representative view of something.

a thumbnail sketch of

Uses "thumbnail sketch" to suggest a small and quickly made drawing representation of something larger.

a swift appraisal of

The substitution highlights the speed of the evaluation.

FAQs

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

Use "a brief examination of" to introduce a short analysis or review. For example, "A brief examination of the data reveals a significant trend."

What's a more formal alternative to "a brief examination of"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a preliminary assessment of" or "a concise study of".

When is it appropriate to use "a brief examination of"?

It's appropriate when you're providing a concise overview and don't intend to delve into extensive detail. If you plan to conduct a thorough investigation, a different phrase might be more suitable.

What are some less formal alternatives to "a brief examination of"?

Less formal options include "a quick look at" or "a passing glance at", which suggest a less rigorous analysis.