brief but complete

USAGE SUMMARY

"brief but complete" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not overly long and detailed but includes all relevant information. For example, "The report was brief but complete, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We start with some brief but complete discussions on the theory of quaternion which will be sufficient for the discussion in the remaining part of the review.

Annual Reviews in Control

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The dialogue was brief but refreshingly complete, something akin to a computer or camera purchase in another world.

Huffington Post

The avian Z and W have solved this problem by wrapping the much longer Z chromosome around the short W chromosome during pachytene, resulting in a brief state of heterologous, but complete synapsis at mid pachytene (Solari 1992; Schoenmakers et al. 2009).

Chromosoma

As we usually work to a client's brief having complete control over a project is great and seeing the results very satisfying.

TechCrunch

The Rutter scales are fairly brief to complete yet correlate well [ 51] with the Child Behavior Checklist [ 52].

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

After the participants were given a brief and complete description of the study, written informed consent was obtained.

BioMed Research International

In brief, participants completed assessments at baseline, 8 weeks (intervention completion), and 20 weeks (Fig.  1).

BMC Cancer

Give students the brief quiz to complete independently.

The New York Times

These unions are more like brief, rocky marriages, complete with that hint of longing after the journey finally ends.

The New York Times - Travel

Most are only preserved in fragments, although there are two brief complete works.

SEP

In brief, complete response (CR) was defined as the complete disappearance of all visible tumour, no steroid therapy and a neurologically stable or improved condition.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and efficiency in communication, use "brief but complete" to signal that information is presented concisely without sacrificing essential details. This is particularly useful in reports, summaries, and instructions where readers appreciate brevity but need comprehensive information.

Common error

While "brief but complete" is valid, overuse can make your writing sound formulaic. Vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement and showcase a wider vocabulary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brief but complete" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate its characteristics. Ludwig AI shows that it's used to describe the nature of a communication, document, or process. The phrase highlights the dual qualities of conciseness and thoroughness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "brief but complete" serves as an adjectival phrase denoting conciseness alongside thoroughness. Ludwig AI indicates its appropriateness across various formal contexts like science, news, and business. While grammatically sound, varying your language is recommended to prevent repetition. Alternatives such as ""concise yet thorough"" or ""short but comprehensive"" offer similar meanings with different nuances. It's a valid way to describe information that’s presented efficiently without omitting essential details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concise yet thorough

Replaces "brief" with "concise" emphasizing succinctness, and "complete" with "thorough" highlighting attention to detail.

short but comprehensive

Uses "short" instead of "brief", focusing on length, and "comprehensive" instead of "complete", emphasizing coverage.

succinct yet exhaustive

Substitutes "brief" with "succinct", stressing brevity, and "complete" with "exhaustive", highlighting thoroughness.

compact but detailed

Replaces "brief" with "compact", focusing on space efficiency, and "complete" with "detailed", emphasizing granularity.

abridged but full

Uses "abridged" instead of "brief", suggesting a shortened version, and "full" instead of "complete", emphasizing entirety.

summary but inclusive

Replaces "brief" with "summary", emphasizing a concise overview, and "complete" with "inclusive", highlighting all-encompassing nature.

pithy yet elaborate

Substitutes "brief" with "pithy", stressing conciseness and wit, and "complete" with "elaborate", highlighting complexity.

terse but expansive

Uses "terse" instead of "brief", focusing on abruptness, and "expansive" instead of "complete", emphasizing broadness.

laconic yet comprehensive

Replaces "brief" with "laconic" highlighting a style of speaking or writing using very few words; concise.

short and sweet but all-inclusive

Replaces "brief" with the idiom "short and sweet" emphasizing brevity. Also replaces "complete" with "all-inclusive", highlighting the fact of including everything.

FAQs

How can I use "brief but complete" in a sentence?

You can use "brief but complete" to describe something that is concise yet thorough. For example, "The report was "brief but complete", providing a comprehensive overview of the project."

What are some alternatives to "brief but complete"?

Alternatives include "concise yet thorough", "short but comprehensive", and "succinct yet exhaustive" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "brief but complete" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "brief but complete" is generally suitable for formal writing, but ensure it aligns with the overall tone and style. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive, so consider varying your phrasing.

What does "brief but complete" emphasize?

"Brief but complete" emphasizes that something is presented concisely while still including all essential information. It suggests a balance between brevity and comprehensiveness.