a fleeting message

USAGE SUMMARY

"a fleeting message" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a message that only has a brief existence or lasts for a short amount of time. For example, "I received a fleeting message on my phone before it abruptly disconnected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Consumers who play these games, Mr. Keane added, "are spending a number of moments with it, getting more than a fleeting message".

The New York Times - Tech

The music is, as always, lucid and focussed but the departure from traditional fugal procedure sends a fleeting message to those who appreciate the subtleties of the musical processes".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Web site states, "The allure of fleeting messages reminds us about the beauty of friendship — we don't need a reason to stay in touch".

The New York Times

Whether the intangible is a digital photo, a series of messages, a fleeting encounter or in this case, a bunch of Google searches.

Vice

Love may be a fleeting thing, but e-mail messages are forever.

The New York Times

It was a message which, for a fleeting moment, made the heart leap.

Independent

Be it opposition to Israel, to autocratic Arab regimes, or to the plethora of injustices visited on Arabs, the Islamists are the only ones with a broadly popular message and an ardent following, with a fleeting exception or two.

The New York Times

If you're a candidate for president, the convention affords you a fleeting window of opportunity, about three hours total of network airtime, to present speakers who will get across your one central message to the wide section of America.

The New York Times

A fleeting sensation of omnipotence?

The New York Times - Magazine

She, in turn, had a fleeting thought that if her most improbable audience, the Nebraska football team, could see Brown momentarily distressed, that might better humanize her message.

The New York Times - Sports

She gave a fleeting smile.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fleeting message" when you want to emphasize the brief or transient nature of the communication. This can be effective in creating a sense of urgency or impermanence.

Common error

Avoid using "a fleeting message" when the communication is intended to have a lasting impact or requires careful consideration. Choose a different phrase that reflects the importance of the message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fleeting message" functions as a noun phrase where "fleeting" modifies the noun "message". It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in describing brief or transient communication.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fleeting message" is a phrase used to describe a communication that is brief, temporary, or lacks lasting impact. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and suitable for written English. While not very common, it appears mostly in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, consider its emphasis on brevity and whether that aligns with the intended meaning. Alternatives such as "a temporary communication" or "a brief note" can be used to convey similar ideas with slightly different nuances. Therefore, the phrase is suitable when brevity and transience are key aspects of the message you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a temporary communication

Replaces "fleeting" with "temporary" emphasizing the short duration of the communication.

a brief communication

Substitutes "fleeting" with "brief", highlighting the concise nature of the message.

a short note

Replaces "message" with "note", suggesting a less formal and shorter communication.

an ephemeral communication

Substitutes "fleeting" with "ephemeral", which has a more formal and literary tone, emphasizing the very short lifespan of the message.

a quick memo

Uses "memo" instead of "message", implying a formal but brief internal communication.

a passing remark

Replaces "message" with "remark", indicating a casual and transient statement.

a momentary announcement

Changes "fleeting" to "momentary" and "message" to "announcement", suggesting a very short-lived public notice.

a short burst of information

Replaces "message" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the brevity and informational content.

a transient signal

Replaces "message" with "signal", implying a non-verbal or electronic communication of short duration.

a concise piece of news

Highlights the brevity and newsworthiness of the communication.

FAQs

What does "a fleeting message" mean?

The phrase "a fleeting message" refers to a piece of communication that is brief or short-lived. It suggests the message is not intended to last long or have a significant impact.

How can I use "a fleeting message" in a sentence?

You can use "a fleeting message" to describe something seen or heard briefly, such as "I caught "a fleeting message" on the screen before it disappeared".

What can I say instead of "a fleeting message"?

You can use alternatives like "a temporary communication", "a brief communication", or "a passing remark" depending on the context.

Is "a fleeting message" formal or informal?

"A fleeting message" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it might sound more appropriate in descriptive writing rather than everyday conversation.