a brief quotation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brief quotation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a short excerpt or citation from a text or speech. Example: "In her essay, she included a brief quotation from Shakespeare to illustrate her point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

One of Williams's virtues is that he trains people to listen thematically: even the littlest kids will catch a brief quotation of the Darth Vader march when his mask is displayed onscreen.

The New Yorker

The latter part of Act 2 is devoted to Anna's growing despondency and eventual suicide, after which soloists and chorus lament a "giorno di dolor" (day of grief) with a brief quotation from "La Clemenza di Tito" by Mozart — Rossini's favorite composer — that seems to have gone undetected by scholars.

The New York Times - Arts

Although reporters and editors were careful about using a brief quotation from the unnamed blog – even taking the precaution of typing the words into a search engine to see if it could lead readers to the blog — they apparently were not careful enough.

The New York Times

Permit me a brief quotation from my book "A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President": Before November 15 , 1995 Clinton and Lewinsky had never had an actual conversation, though she later asserted they had engaged in "intense flirting" through eye contact.

The New Yorker

The complaint offers a brief quotation from Stern's letter to clients: "We hope that you considered the ride to be a good one…".

Forbes

Table 2 shows each of the specific response categories and the general themes, the percent of respondents whose response fit into these categories and a brief quotation as a key example of those responses.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A scrap of dialogue from that movie intrudes on the musings of a pair of art dealers in "Éloge," and a brief visual quotation -- the image of a piece of trash blowing around on a sidewalk while a voice-over natters on about the beauty of the world -- pops up in "Storytelling".

The New York Times

But except for one brief quotation, the music is Ms. Berkson's, including a motet setting of Psalm 130, sung in unintelligible German, that skillfully weaves delicate counterpoint with dense chromatic harmonies.

The New York Times - Arts

Nor was Justice Kennedy's brief quotation from "Actual Innocence" especially punctilious.

The New York Times

Brief quotation can do only partial justice to the loving acuity with which DiBattista considers this band of admirable women, who give as good as they get, if not a great deal more.

The New York Times - Books

The Gospel of the Ebionites is the conventional name given by scholars to an apocryphal gospel extant only as seven brief quotations in a heresiology known as the Panarion, by Epiphanius of Salamis; he misidentified it as the "Hebrew" gospel, believing it to be a truncated and modified version of the Gospel of Matthew.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a brief quotation", ensure it's adequately contextualized so the reader understands its significance and relevance to your argument.

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple "brief quotations" without providing sufficient analysis or explanation, as this can make your writing seem disjointed and lacking in original thought.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief quotation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It identifies a short excerpt from a source, often used to support an argument or illustrate a point. Ludwig AI's examples show its use in various contexts, emphasizing the selective and concise nature of the quotation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief quotation" is a grammatically sound and usable noun phrase referring to a short excerpt from a source, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While not extremely common, its use is distributed across several contexts, especially News & Media and Scientific domains. The phrase serves to concisely introduce evidence or support an argument, maintaining a neutral register suitable for both general and professional writing. Effective usage involves ensuring adequate contextualization and analysis, avoiding over-reliance without substantive explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short quote

Emphasizes the concise nature of the excerpt.

a quick excerpt

Highlights the speed and brevity of the cited passage.

a small citation

Focuses on the formal act of referencing a source in a condensed form.

a concise passage

Underscores the succinctness and relevance of the selected text.

a fleeting reference

Implies a momentary and insubstantial mention.

a terse citation

Conveys a sense of brevity and directness in the reference.

a succinct quote

Highlights the characteristic of being brief and clearly expressed.

a compact excerpt

Focuses on the small size and completeness of the extract.

a miniature quote

Emphasizes the extremely small size of the cited text.

a snapshot quote

Highlights the capture of the essential meaning in a succinct way.

FAQs

How can I effectively integrate "a brief quotation" into my writing?

Introduce the quotation with context, clearly state its source, and follow it with analysis explaining its relevance to your argument. This helps ensure the quotation enhances, rather than disrupts, the flow of your writing.

What are some alternatives to using "a brief quotation"?

You can use alternatives like "a short quote", "a quick excerpt", or "a small citation" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a brief quotation" versus a longer one?

Use "a brief quotation" when a short excerpt effectively captures the essence of a point you're making. Opt for a longer quotation when more extensive context or nuance is needed.

How do I properly cite "a brief quotation"?

Always provide a clear and complete citation, including the author, title, and source of the quotation, following the citation style (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago) required by your context.