a small brief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small brief" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "brief" already implies something short or concise, making "small" redundant. Example: "Please provide a brief overview of the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"I thought maybe it would be a small brief thing on the evening news.

Independent

The Paris tourist board gave Attal free rein, but with a small brief: he had to advertise the city, of course, but more importantly, he had to use the less well-known parts of Paris, not the usual shots of the Eiffel tower and the Louvre.

The Guardian - Film

Hundreds of foreign and local climbers have gathered at the base camp of Everest to prepare for attempts on the 29,035-foot mountain early next month when weather conditions become optimal and provide a small, brief window of opportunity for people to realise their ambitions.

Independent

Update, 3/9/2018 4 PM ET: A Facebook spokesperson says this was a "small, brief test".

TechCrunch

The negative wave was sometimes preceded by a small, brief positivity, and always followed by a positive overshoot of 3 5 min [25].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Can you imagine such an editorial accompanying a small, brief study that failed to show some particular effect of a newly patented drug?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Most of the world's useful information still resides in people's heads," Udi Manber, vice president of engineering at Google said at a small briefing with reporters in San Francisco on Monday.

The Guardian - Tech

"We're spending at least a third of our money on organization," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev). said in a small briefing last week.

Huffington Post

The proposal, which was outlined by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y). in a small briefing with reporters, would establish a mandatory 60-vote threshold for any legislative proposal to raise the age for Medicare benefits or to reduce those benefits.

Huffington Post

The time at which the ANOVA curve crossed the p = 0.01 criterion (eye position effect latency) was 107 ms following saccade onset for the 3-position task and 79 ms for the 8-position task, with a smaller brief deflection occurring earlier at 35 ms. The eye position effect was not due to large receptive fields being affected by changing stimulus conditions beyond the edge of our display apparatus.

Plosone

If this is not something you or your mate are used to, you can do a very small, brief kiss just to seal your ceremony.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "a small brief" in formal writing; it is often redundant. Instead, opt for "a short brief", "a brief summary", or simply "a brief" depending on the context.

Common error

Be mindful of using adjectives that reiterate information already contained within a noun. "Brief" implies shortness; adding "small" is usually unnecessary and can weaken your writing. Focus on being concise and precise with your word choices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small brief" functions as an adjectival phrase attempting to describe the size and scope of a written or spoken summary. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically incorrect due to redundancy, as "brief" already implies shortness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a small brief" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "small" with "brief", as noted by Ludwig AI. While examples can be found, particularly in news and media or science, these instances do not validate its use in formal writing. Alternatives such as "a short brief", "a brief overview", or "a concise summary" are recommended to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Therefore, it's crucial to avoid "a small brief" and opt for more precise and less redundant options, especially in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short brief

Emphasizes the brevity of the brief, replacing "small" with "short".

a concise summary

Focuses on the succinctness of the information presented, using "summary" instead of "brief".

a brief overview

Highlights the summarizing nature of the content, using "overview" instead of "brief".

a quick synopsis

Indicates a rapid and condensed account, replacing both "small" and modifying "brief".

a short summary

Offers a direct and simple alternative, prioritizing clarity, and uses "summary" instead of "brief".

a brief outline

Focuses on the structural aspect of the content, using "outline" instead of "brief".

a concise account

Emphasizes the accuracy and brevity of the report, using "account" instead of "brief".

a condensed version

Highlights the abridged nature of the content, replacing "brief" with "version".

a short precis

This option is more sophisticated and not very common. It highlights the abridged nature of the content, replacing both "small" and modifying "brief".

a miniaturized brief

More literally emphasizes the size, and uses 'miniaturized' instead of 'small' or just saying 'brief'.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "a small brief"?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "a small brief" is generally considered incorrect in standard written English because "brief" already implies something short or concise, making "small" redundant. It's better to use alternatives like "a short brief" or "a concise summary".

What are some alternatives to "a small brief"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a brief overview", "a quick synopsis", or "a short summary". These alternatives avoid the redundancy of using both "small" and "brief".

When is it acceptable to use the phrase "a small brief"?

While generally discouraged in formal writing, "a small brief" might appear in informal contexts or speech. However, for clarity and precision, it's always preferable to use a more appropriate alternative.

What's the difference between "a small brief" and "a short brief"?

Both phrases aim to convey brevity, but "a short brief" is more grammatically sound. The adjective "short" complements "brief" without being redundant, whereas "small" is often unnecessary as "brief" already implies limited length. Therefore, use "a short brief" instead.