an instant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an instant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a very short period of time or a moment. Example: "Please hold on for just an instant while I grab the document."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In an instant.

BBC

"It's an instant response".

The New York Times

It's an instant classic.

The New York Times - Travel

They're gone in an instant".

Independent

It's an instant Band-Aid".

The New York Times

In an instant, everything changed.

The New York Times

In an instant, eyes widened.

The New York Times - Sports

It's an instant London landmark.

Independent

Roszkh was an instant sensation.

The New York Times

Notaro made an instant calculation.

The New Yorker

It was an instant success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an instant" to emphasize the suddenness or brevity of an action or event. For example, "The power outage occurred in an instant."

Common error

While "an instant" is perfectly acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound less sophisticated. Opt for more formal alternatives like "immediately" or "momentarily" in academic or professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an instant" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the timing or duration of an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common way to express a very short period.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an instant" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a very short period. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable. It commonly functions as an adverbial modifier and is used to emphasize the speed or suddenness of an event. While versatile, it's essential to consider the context, opting for more formal alternatives like "immediately" or "momentarily" in formal writing. Top sources include The New York Times and BBC. Be mindful of overuse to maintain writing sophistication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a moment

Emphasizes a very brief period of time, slightly more colloquial.

in a second

Highlights a short time frame, interchangeable in many contexts.

momentarily

Adverbial form indicating something will happen very soon.

in the blink of an eye

Figurative expression, stressing the suddenness of an event.

in a flash

Emphasizes speed and abruptness of an event.

immediately

Focuses on the lack of delay, rather than duration.

at once

Highlights the simultaneous nature of an action.

right away

Suggests promptness and immediacy in response.

without delay

Stresses the absence of any waiting period.

in no time

Indicates the brevity and swiftness of an action's completion.

FAQs

What does "an instant" mean?

"An instant" refers to a very short period of time, a moment. It emphasizes the quickness or abruptness of something.

How can I use "an instant" in a sentence?

You can use "an instant" to describe how quickly something happens. For example, "The car crash happened in "an instant"."

What can I say instead of "an instant"?

You can use alternatives like "in a moment", "immediately", or "momentarily" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a moment" or "an instant"?

Both "a moment" and "an instant" are correct and often interchangeable. "An instant" emphasizes greater speed or abruptness compared to "a moment".