all too fleeting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all too fleeting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is very brief or temporary, often evoking a sense of nostalgia or loss. Example: "The beauty of the sunset was all too fleeting, disappearing before we could fully appreciate it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

May they help us mindfully embrace "the wonder years" in what we soon discover, is an all too fleeting time.

Huffington Post

The moment will be all too fleeting, though.

The New York Times - Sports

Success in a development project, unfortunately, is usually all too fleeting.

The New York Times

If that happened, Bangladesh's China opportunity could prove all too fleeting, they say.

The New York Times

But in "Signs of Wonder," her extended dancing passages are all too fleeting.

The New York Times - Arts

It's grand fun, to be sure, but in the end an impression that's all too fleeting.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

CAPTURING the all-too-fleeting memories of summer has gotten easier, even for amateur photographers who don't know an F-stop from an optical zoom.

The New York Times - Travel

FOR two all-too-fleeting nights next week, Alaka Basu will be happily scattering her belongings around a Manhattan hotel room.

The New York Times

And we have escaped the jaws of March, but now I am waiting for the all-too-fleeting weeks in April when cherry trees bloom in Branch Brook Park in Newark, another of Frederick Law Olmsted's 19th-century landscapes.

The New York Times

He offers a fascinating but typically all-too-fleeting glimpse of American Protestant missionaries' influence on the Christian Armenians and the tensions it created with the Muslim Turkish community.

The New York Times - Books

They play off of their homey settings with undertones that are surprisingly dark, and find inventive ways to illustrate the ways in which the past and future continually intrude on an all-too-fleeting present.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all too fleeting" to add emotional depth when describing something that passes quickly and is missed or regretted. For example, "The joy of the reunion was "all too fleeting", leaving us longing for more time together."

Common error

While "all too fleeting" is appropriate in many contexts, avoid overusing it in formal or technical writing where a more neutral term like "brief" or "temporary" might be more suitable. Overuse can make the writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all too fleeting" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "fleeting" to emphasize the brevity and transience of something. Ludwig confirms this, presenting numerous examples where the phrase modifies nouns and describes transient experiences or opportunities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Arts

10%

Sport

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all too fleeting" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something brief and often regretted. Ludwig provides numerous examples from reputable sources, confirming its validity and illustrating its usage in diverse contexts, predominantly within News & Media. While versatile, using alternative words like "excessively brief", "regrettably short-lived", or "sadly temporary" could improve clarity in formal settings. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable, while noting the importance of being aware of its emotional connotations and avoiding overuse in formal and technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively brief

Emphasizes the shortness of the duration, focusing on its insufficiency.

regrettably short-lived

Highlights the disappointment associated with the brief duration.

sadly temporary

Focuses on the sadness or melancholy caused by the impermanence.

vanishingly quick

Stresses the speed at which something disappears.

painfully brief

Emphasizes the unpleasantness of the short duration.

deplorably transient

Indicates disapproval of the fleeting nature of something.

lamentably short

Expresses sorrow or regret about the limited duration.

woefully brief

Highlights the inadequacy of the duration.

unfortunately ephemeral

Focuses on the short-lived and often beautiful nature of something.

tragically short

Implies a sense of loss or misfortune due to the brevity.

FAQs

How can "all too fleeting" be used in a sentence?

The phrase "all too fleeting" describes something that passes quickly and is often regretted. For instance, "The opportunity to travel was "all too fleeting", disappearing before I could seize it."

What phrases are similar to "all too fleeting"?

Alternatives include "excessively brief", "regrettably short-lived", or "sadly temporary". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "all too fleeting" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "all too fleeting" can sound somewhat informal or melodramatic. In formal contexts, consider using more neutral terms like "brief" or "temporary".

What's the difference between "all too fleeting" and "brief"?

"Brief" simply indicates a short duration, whereas "all too fleeting" carries a stronger emotional connotation of regret or longing for something that passed quickly. For example: "The meeting was brief" vs. "The vacation was "all too fleeting"".