a brief work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a brief work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a short piece of writing, such as an essay, article, or report. Example: "The professor assigned a brief work on the topic of climate change for the students to complete by next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I began to work out the implications of this notion in a brief work of fiction.

The New Yorker

The Book of Haggai, the 10th book of the Twelve (Minor) Prophets, is a brief work of only two chapters.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But "Are You Serious?" is a brief work that feels much longer, an unlovely book that's hard to love.

The New York Times - Books

Christopher Wheeldon's "Carousel (A Dance)" is a brief work to music from that Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

The New York Times - Arts

These layouts typically have an enhanced skills section at the beginning of the CV, with a brief work history following.

The Guardian

Last spring, a dispute over delayed paychecks in one Alcoa plant here set off a brief work stoppage.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Now the teacher wen there's time to kill takes them out for a brief work-out on the roof.

The New Yorker

To develop a new piece of creative, a company has to write a creative brief, work with an agency to generate creative ideas, select a concept, shoot the ad and edit it.

Huffington Post

Finally, there is a very brief work of mnemonic verses for teaching grammar to schoolboys, Commentarius in carmen 'Fundamentum puerorum' (ed. Gansiniec 1960), although its editor believes that it is actually an anonymous abridgement of De modis significandi.

SEP

The sponsor included a detailed brief and it is now up to us to make that brief work in a design.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The stark, spare textures of the brief work provided a striking contrast to the noise and frenzy of the preceding scores.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a piece of writing, use "a brief work" to emphasize its conciseness and focus. This can be useful in academic or professional contexts where brevity is valued.

Common error

While "a brief work" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a short piece" or "a quick study" when communicating with friends or family.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a brief work" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to a short piece of creative or intellectual effort. Ludwig confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a brief work" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a short piece of creative or intellectual effort. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it's more common in written contexts like news articles, encyclopedias, and academic papers. The phrase is considered neutral in tone, and its purpose is to emphasize the conciseness and focus of the described item. For more informal settings, alternatives like "a short piece" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short piece

Replaces "brief work" with simpler synonyms.

a concise study

Replaces "work" with "study", implying a focused examination.

a short composition

Replaces "work" with "composition", suggesting a creative piece.

a compact treatise

Replaces "brief" and "work" with more formal and academic synonyms.

a miniature creation

Emphasizes the small size and crafted nature of the work.

a succinct paper

Replaces "work" with "paper", implying a written document.

a fleeting effort

Focuses on the short duration of the work.

a swift undertaking

Replaces "work" with "undertaking", suggesting a task completed quickly.

a limited exercise

Highlights the constrained nature and scope of the work.

a short project

Replaces "work" with "project", implying a structured activity with a specific goal.

FAQs

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

"A brief work" typically refers to a short piece of writing or creative output. For instance, "The professor assigned "a brief work" on Renaissance art" or "Her latest ballet is "a brief work" exploring themes of isolation".

What's a more informal way to say "a brief work"?

For less formal situations, consider alternatives such as "a short piece", "a quick study", or even just "a short article", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "a brief work" and "a concise work"?

While both suggest something is short, "a brief work" generally emphasizes the lack of length, while "a concise work" emphasizes that it is to the point and avoids unnecessary details.

What are some examples of what might be considered "a brief work"?

Examples include "a short story", "a short essay", "a short film", or even "a brief musical composition".