a brief reminder

USAGE SUMMARY

"a brief reminder" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in a sentence to indicate that something is being mentioned again, or to refresh someone's memory about something. For example: - "As a brief reminder, the meeting will take place at 2pm tomorrow." - "Just a brief reminder to submit your project proposals by the end of the week." - "I know we've discussed this before, but let me give you a brief reminder of the key points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

His frustration made for a surprisingly lively news conference this morning, and gave the public a brief reminder that there are real limits to the power of the White House.

The New York Times

There was a brief reminder of the Nationals' existence last year when they picked Strasburg No. 1. D.C., though, specializes in No. 1 picks, so you are excused for glazing over that one too.

The New York Times

When she stood on that podium after winning the 200m backstroke and out-touched the heavy favorite, Katinka Hosszu of Hungary, the tears of joy were a brief reminder of the hours of work that no one else sees.

The Guardian - Sport

FOR the benefit of the 20 men and women who signed on yesterday with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's new decency commission, a brief reminder of recent history may prove useful.

The New York Times

In the meantime, here's a brief reminder of how the last one went: "A lot has happened in two weeks," Alastair Cook said after a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat at the SCG.

The Guardian - Sport

When DeSean Jackson rolled into the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp on Monday with his agent and his holdout in tow, it provided a brief reminder that even a team that has seized the N.F.L. marketplace by the throat this summer must occasionally deal with the mundane realities of insufficient contracts and unhappy players.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Moving rapidly past some of the most beautifully situated slaughterhouses in Europe, mercifully an only brief reminder that people have to earn a living somehow, we began a dizzying climb up to the castle of Requesens, overlooking Albera Natural Park, through a riot of lizards, woodchats, shrike, redstarts, hoopoe, dark blue bees and clouded yellow butterflies.

Independent

The Neue Galerie has devoted solo shows to many of the artists here, from Kandinsky and Kokoschka to Otto Dix and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and usually those exhibitions trailed off at the end of the Weimar period with a brief, dutiful reminder of the horrors to come.

The Guardian - Arts

Alexandria, where they had taken refuge and gotten a brief tantalizing reminder of how life used to be, was finally overrun by thousands of walkers.

Huffington Post

A brief film reminder task was then administered in which one neutral but recognizable image from each film clip was presented to all participants.

Plosone

After the break, all participants were shown a brief film reminder task in which one neutral but recognizable static image from each of the 15 film clips was presented (via slides in PowerPoint) in order to "reactivate" memories for the trauma film [1], [59], [60].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a brief reminder" to quickly refresh your audience's memory before introducing new information or expanding on an existing topic. This ensures everyone is on the same page.

Common error

While "a brief reminder" is useful, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less engaging. Vary your language by using synonyms like "a quick recap" or "a concise summary."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a brief reminder" is to serve as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject or introductory element in a sentence. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase introduces a concise restatement of previously discussed information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief reminder" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase for prompting recall and ensuring shared understanding. As Ludwig AI states, it effectively introduces a concise restatement of information, suitable for various contexts. It's categorized as a phrase and is predominantly used in News & Media and Science, as shown in Ludwig's examples. While it is a valuable phrase, avoid overusing it; instead, consider employing alternatives like "a quick recap" or "a concise summary" to maintain writing engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short recap

Focuses on summarizing information concisely.

a quick review

Emphasizes a fast overview of the topic.

a concise summary

Highlights the brevity and completeness of the overview.

a short note

Suggests a minimal amount of information to recall.

a fast overview

Implies a swift and comprehensive examination.

a succinct account

Stresses the conciseness and clarity of the information.

a fleeting thought

Suggests something that is quickly remembered or considered.

a simple pointer

Indicates a straightforward and easy-to-understand piece of information.

a clear statement

Highlights the clarity and directness of the reminder.

a tiny nudge

Emphasizes the subtlety of the reminder.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a brief reminder" in a sentence?

Start a paragraph or transition with "a brief reminder" to set the stage for recalling previous knowledge. For example, "As "a brief reminder", our company's mission is to provide sustainable solutions."

What are some alternatives to "a brief reminder" that I can use?

You can use alternatives like "a quick recap", "a concise summary", or "a short note" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to include "a brief reminder" before discussing a familiar topic?

No, it's not always necessary. Use it when you suspect your audience may need a refresher or when the information is complex and requires a quick review to ensure comprehension. If you already have the knowledge it won't be necessary to include it.

How does "a brief reminder" differ from a detailed explanation?

"A brief reminder" is a concise overview, whereas a detailed explanation provides comprehensive information with supporting evidence. Use ""a brief reminder"" when a quick memory refresh is sufficient, and a detailed explanation when thorough understanding is required.