allow me a brief

USAGE SUMMARY

"allow me a brief" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a way to politely ask someone to allow you a short period of time to do or say something. For example, "Allow me a brief moment to explain my position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Now, in the midst of these celebrations of writing from elsewhere, he launched a sort of home talent show, adapting an original initiative from the British Book Marketing Council (allow me a brief and probably deeply unfair diversion: have four words ever so readily summoned up the image of a committee meeting with green cups and saucers and a plate of Peek Freans?).

The Guardian - Books

Allow me a brief recap: in the movie, Elsa, the eldest sister (voiced by Idina Menzel), is born with frightening freezing powers -- think Iceman from the X-Men, not Evie from "Out of this World".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Please allow me to share a brief story: I once knew a woman who suffered because she had been very poor as a child, and had had to quit school as a young girl to go to work and help her family.

Huffington Post

And now, allow me to take a brief diversion.

Vice

bonk, a nice steady rhythm, always with enough of a pause between blows to allow me brief hope that there might not be another.

The New Yorker

I don't like to talk the entire flight, but sometimes casual conversations allow me to meet, for a brief while, people who are truly making a difference in the world.

The New York Times

Allow me to give you a brief synopsis by way of background.

Huffington Post

And if you'll kindly allow me to give myself a brief pat on the stinger, I was so proud to twice be named the NBA's Mascot of the Year".

Huffington Post

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to begin with a brief comment on the political content of the speeches we have heard today, particularly that by Mr Schulz.

EU Parlament

JUST in case you missed it between holiday celebrations, please allow me to draw your attention to a briefing in the most recent edition of The Economist which examines the impact of the economics blogosphere as seen in the growing prominence of several heterodox schools of thought.

The Economist

We allow ourselves a brief, ironic cackle.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allow me a brief" when you want to politely introduce a concise statement or action. It's suitable for formal situations where brevity is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "allow me a brief" in casual conversations; simpler phrases like "let me just say" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allow me a brief" functions as an introductory expression, politely requesting permission to provide a concise statement or action. It sets the stage for brevity and efficiency in communication, as evidenced by Ludwig's identification of its usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "allow me a brief" serves as a polite and formal introduction to a concise statement or action. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and most appropriate in professional and news-related contexts. While useful, it should be reserved for situations where brevity is valued and formality is fitting, avoiding overuse in casual settings. Alternatives such as "let me briefly" or "permit me a short" can also be used, depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permit me a short

Replaces "allow" with "permit", emphasizing formal consent; "brief" becomes "short".

let me briefly

Uses "let" instead of "allow", making it slightly less formal; "a brief" is replaced by the adverb "briefly".

allow me to be concise

Replaces "a brief" with "to be concise", directly stating the intention of brevity.

if I may be brief

Introduces a condition of permission using "if I may", changing the tone to more conditional and polite.

let me offer a quick

Replaces "brief" with "quick", shifting the emphasis to speed of delivery.

let me quickly

Substitutes "brief" with "quickly", highlighting speed over conciseness.

if you'll allow a short

Puts the onus on the listener to grant permission, increasing politeness and formality.

permit me to summarize

Uses "permit" and specifies the action to "summarize", providing a clearer context.

allow me a moment

Replaces "brief" with "moment", suggesting a small allocation of time rather than a concise statement.

let me just say briefly

Adds emphasis to the action of speaking succinctly by using "just say briefly".

FAQs

How can I use "allow me a brief" in a sentence?

You can use "allow me a brief" to introduce a short explanation, summary, or comment, such as "Allow me a brief recap of the situation" or "Allow me a brief moment to address this issue".

What are some alternatives to "allow me a brief"?

Alternatives include "permit me a short", "let me briefly", or "if I may be brief", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "allow me a brief" formal or informal?

"Allow me a brief" leans towards a more formal register, suitable for professional or official contexts. For informal situations, simpler alternatives are generally preferred.

What's the difference between "allow me a brief" and "let me quickly"?

"Allow me a brief" emphasizes the conciseness of the statement, while "let me quickly" focuses on the speed with which the information is delivered. The best choice depends on whether brevity or speed is more important in the context.