a quick moment

USAGE SUMMARY

"a quick moment" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you could say, "Please wait here for a quick moment while I get the papers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

One evening in January, Crawford got a text from Moret, asking whether she had a quick moment.

The Washington Post

Alexa P: Let's take a quick moment and rap about some singers, At the VMA's Lady Gaga was quite a winner.

The New York Times

Daniel Boulud gives them a quick moment in a skillet, then mixes them with a salad of tropical fruit and crisp vegetables like fennel.

The New York Times - Food

I wondered what the lawyer had written, and as the door opened, it let in a bright light, for just a quick moment.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, as is increasingly the case with Twitter, a quick moment to pause and actually do one's own reading around the issue revealed quite a different picture.

The Guardian - Opinion

Before you conclude the practice, you might want to take a quick moment to give yourself a bit of encouragement: "I've got this, I'm going to take it moment by moment".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

I'll post a quick instant verdict in a moment, and then go on the hunt for reaction.

The Guardian

"Some young, hunky guy to come in maybe the second or third season to have a really quick moment with," she said.

HuffPost

But the challenge is that for a fan, that quick moment remains in your memory bank forever, for better or for worse.

Los Angeles Times

All that remains is clicking "Make Startup Disk". After a few quick moments, you'll have a bootable Live USB of your chosen Linux Desktop flavor that you can play with on the PC you just used or any other one!

Forbes

The heroin became but a quick scary moment.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, ensure the context makes it clear what action should be performed or what should happen during that brief time. Avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a quick moment" in highly formal settings or official documents. Opt for more formal alternatives such as "a brief period" or "a short interval" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quick moment" functions as a noun phrase where "quick" modifies "moment". It commonly acts as an adverbial phrase, indicating the brief duration of an action or event. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples from diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a quick moment" is a commonly used phrase that denotes a short span of time. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, primarily in news and media, academia, and wiki sources. While versatile, its informal tone may not always be suitable for formal or professional settings. Consider using more formal alternatives, such as "a brief period" or "a short interval", when a more professional tone is needed. Understanding its nuances and contexts will help you use this phrase effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief instant

Emphasizes the very short duration, highlighting the instantaneous nature.

a short period

Focuses on the limited duration, suitable when the brevity is the key aspect.

a fleeting second

Suggests the moment is not only brief but also passes quickly and is almost unnoticeable.

a split second

Highlights how extremely short and almost imperceptible the time is.

a snap of time

Implies a moment that is over as quickly as a finger snap.

a mere second

Emphasizes the insignificance of the time involved.

a passing instant

Indicates that the moment is transient and will not last.

a tiny interval

Focuses on the small amount of time that separates two events.

a small window

Uses the metaphor of a window to suggest a limited opportunity within a short timeframe.

a quick spell

Indicates a brief period dedicated to an activity or state.

FAQs

How can I use "a quick moment" in a sentence?

You can use "a quick moment" to request someone's time, as in "Could I have "a quick moment" of your time?" or to describe a brief event, such as "There was "a quick moment" of silence before the speech began."

What are some alternatives to "a quick moment"?

Alternatives include "a brief instant", "a short period", or "a fleeting second", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a quick moment" formal or informal?

"A quick moment" tends to be informal. In professional or academic settings, consider using alternatives such as "a brief period" or "a short interval" to maintain a more formal tone.

What's the difference between "a quick moment" and "a brief moment"?

While both phrases indicate a short duration, "a quick moment" is generally more informal and conversational, whereas "a brief moment" carries a slightly more formal tone and can be used in more diverse contexts.