a brief recap

USAGE SUMMARY

"a brief recap" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to introduce a summary or overview of something that has already been discussed or mentioned. Example: "Before we move on to the next topic, let's do a brief recap of what we have learned so far."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A brief recap on 2005: Twitter didn't exist.

The Guardian - Tech

Here is a brief recap of the moves and countermoves.

The New York Times

FOR those who managed to miss the "Locationgate" brouhaha last week, a brief recap.

The Economist

Background A brief recap: The fighting in Syria was initially lopsided.

The New York Times

A brief recap of immigration politics seems to be in order.

The Washington Post

A brief recap for those who are only belatedly tuning in to the New York gubernatorial race: it pits Andrew Cuomo, son of the former….

The New Yorker

Some characters must seem two-dimensional without knowing, beyond a brief recap, what has made them as they are: guilt-ridden, for instance, or melancholic.

The Economist

In a brief recap of the history of televised debates, the Egyptian channels then moved on to an early clash on French television.

The New York Times

A brief recap: In September 2012, Mr. Mitchell was the recently appointed chief whip, the cabinet minister charged with maintaining coalition discipline in Parliament.

The New York Times

A brief recap: Trudi (Sharon Small) is the dowdy mum of daughters whose husband went missing in New York after 9/11, presumed dead.

The Guardian

Let's begin with a brief recap of "Planet Earth 2000," since the ratings suggest that you did not get a chance to watch it yourself.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a brief recap" to provide context for readers who may be unfamiliar with the topic or need a reminder of previous discussions. This helps ensure everyone is on the same page before moving forward.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sections or paragraphs with "a brief recap". Vary your introductory phrases to maintain reader engagement and avoid redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief recap" functions as a noun phrase that introduces or announces a concise summary or review of previously discussed information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief recap" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that serves to introduce a concise summary or overview. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When writing, be mindful of overusing the phrase and consider alternatives such as "a brief summary" or "a quick review" to add variety. Understanding its function and register will help you use it effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief summary

Focuses on condensing information into its essential points.

a quick review

Emphasizes the speed and efficiency of the overview.

a short overview

Highlights the conciseness and broad scope of the summary.

a concise outline

Implies a structured and abbreviated presentation of key points.

a thumbnail sketch

Suggests a very brief and basic description.

a succinct account

Highlights the brevity and clarity of the explanation.

a compact digest

Emphasizes the condensed and easily digestible nature of the information.

a distilled version

Indicates that the information has been refined to its most essential elements.

an abridged version

Suggests that a longer piece has been shortened.

a snapshot

Implies a quick and immediate view of the key aspects.

FAQs

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

You can use "a brief recap" to introduce a summary of previous events or discussions. For example, "Here's "a brief recap" of what we covered in the last meeting."

What is a good alternative to "a brief recap"?

Alternatives include "a brief summary", "a quick review", or "a short overview", depending on the context and desired emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "a brief recap"?

It's appropriate to use "a brief recap" when you need to remind your audience of key information before moving on to new topics or deeper analysis. It's useful in presentations, articles, and reports.

What's the difference between "a brief recap" and "a comprehensive review"?

"A brief recap" provides a short summary, while "a comprehensive review" is much more detailed and thorough. Use "a brief recap" when time or space is limited, and a comprehensive review when detailed analysis is required.