a brief illness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brief illness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a short duration of sickness or health issue. Example: "The patient was hospitalized due to a brief illness but was discharged after a few days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Peacefully, at home, after a brief illness.

The New York Times

Shep died peacefully after a brief illness.

The New York Times

Died after a brief illness.

The New York Times

Died on September 11 , 2010following a brief illness.

The New York Times

January 15 , 2005 after a brief illness.

The New York Times

Died July 10, after a brief illness.

The New York Times

At 86 after a brief illness.

The New York Times

83, passed away after a brief illness.

The New York Times

January 9th, 2007, after a brief illness.

The New York Times

On January 6th after a brief illness.

The New York Times

On June 12 , 1998after a brief illness.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical contexts, use "a brief illness" to quickly communicate that a patient's condition was not chronic or severe, saving more detailed explanations for later.

Common error

Avoid using "a brief illness" interchangeably with "a minor illness". "Brief" refers to the duration, while "minor" refers to the severity. An illness can be brief but severe, or minor but long-lasting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief illness" primarily functions as a modifier describing a state of health. It combines an adjective ("brief") with a noun ("illness") to specify the duration of the sickness. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a brief illness" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, predominantly found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase describes a sickness of short duration, and it is most often used in obituaries, news reports, and formal announcements. The phrase is considered to have a neutral tone. While "a short illness" is a close synonym, it's important to avoid confusing "brief" (duration) with "minor" (severity). Overall, "a brief illness" is a useful and widely understood phrase for describing a temporary period of sickness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short illness

Replaces "brief" with "short", emphasizing the limited duration of the illness.

a short-term illness

Adds specificity by using "short-term" to define the illness's duration.

a mild illness

Shifts the focus from duration to the severity of the illness, implying it is not severe.

a temporary ailment

Uses "temporary ailment" instead of "brief illness", changing both adjectives and nouns for a more formal tone.

a passing sickness

Replaces "illness" with "sickness" and "brief" with "passing", highlighting the transient nature of the condition.

a minor sickness

Similar to "mild illness" but uses "sickness" instead of "illness", emphasizing the lack of severity.

a quick illness

Emphasizes the rapid onset and resolution of the sickness by using "quick".

a short-lived sickness

Uses a compound adjective "short-lived" to describe the sickness, stressing its temporary nature.

a light illness

Indicates that the illness is not serious and doesn't cause significant discomfort or disruption.

a fleeting sickness

Suggests that the illness passed quickly and without lasting impact.

FAQs

What does "a brief illness" usually imply?

The phrase "a brief illness" generally implies that someone was sick for a short duration before their passing, suggesting that their suffering was not prolonged.

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

You can use alternatives like "a short illness", "a short-term illness", or "a mild illness" depending on the specific context.

Is "a brief illness" formal or informal?

"A brief illness" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, such as news reports, obituaries, or personal correspondence.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a brief illness"?

It's appropriate to use "a brief illness" when you want to convey that someone's sickness was short in duration, particularly when discussing a cause of death or a period of health decline. It's especially relevant to use in formal contexts or when speaking about someone's passing.