brief perusal

USAGE SUMMARY

"brief perusal" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to read or look at something quickly and briefly, usually to gain a general overview of it. For example, "After a brief perusal of the document, I noticed some discrepancies in the data".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

A brief perusal of the screen in front of me reveals everything I need to know.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Zombie facts were hardly created by the Internet; even a brief perusal of the partisan newspapers of the 19th century will make that plain.

The New York Times

From my reading of Judge Scheindlin's opinion, which runs to almost two hundred pages, and a brief perusal of some of the expert testimony, the court's decision seems like the correct one.

The New Yorker

A brief perusal of the 1900 classic Things To Make by Archibald Williams reveals plans for building a target for rifle practice, a poultry house, a bicycle shed, a horizontal slide-valve engine, and apparatus for lung-testing - and not an adult in sight.

The Guardian - Books

A brief perusal of the site would find that most of the content is plagiarized or, at the very least, taken from non-original news feeds.

TechCrunch

There are also manual scans and troubleshooting guides but a brief perusal led me to discover that it is currently more of a forum than anything else with some actually helpful advice interspersed with "Take it to the shop, doofus".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Like the other big Vegas hotels, the Mandalay Bay is a destination in itself, a complete entertainment zone, and the briefest perusal told me just getting out of the place might be a challenge — it has 23 restaurants, 8 lounges, endless shops and an aquarium with 15 kinds of sharks.

The New York Times - Travel

I did not relinquish my summer plans, but summer is over now and I have begun to supplement verbal accounts of the running news with tentative perusal of C-span, brief glimpses of anchorfolk, squinting glances at newspapers — trying belatedly to get the story straight.

The New Yorker

In the text, too, Thomas is named as the author, although a brief preface allows that Thomas, in drafting the manuscript, consulted his father's notes and that the elder Church "had the perusal of" his son's manuscript and found "nothing amiss".

The New Yorker

A perusal of the Twitter I.P.O.

The New York Times

The exotic terrane, on the other, elicited much affectionate perusal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "brief perusal" when you want to indicate a quick, non-exhaustive review of something. It's suitable when a detailed analysis isn't necessary or intended.

Common error

Avoid using "brief perusal" when you actually mean a detailed or thorough analysis. The phrase implies a superficial look, not an in-depth investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brief perusal" functions as a noun phrase where "brief" is an adjective modifying the noun "perusal". It typically acts as an object or adverbial modifier in a sentence, indicating the action of quickly examining something. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "brief perusal" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase meaning a quick and non-exhaustive review. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's well-suited for describing superficial examinations, not in-depth analyses. The phrase has a neutral register and is commonly found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. While not extremely common, "brief perusal" is a useful way to convey a rapid overview. For alternative expressions, consider options like "quick scan" or "cursory glance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rapid review

Replaces "brief perusal" with "rapid review", suggesting a swift overview of the material.

quick scan

Substitutes "perusal" with "scan", highlighting a rapid and often digital review.

cursory reading

Replaces "perusal" with "reading", specifying the action being performed quickly.

cursory glance

Replaces "perusal" with "glance", emphasizing the speed and superficiality of the observation.

hasty examination

Replaces "brief" with "hasty" and "perusal" with "examination", stressing the hurried nature of the inspection.

preliminary overview

Suggests an initial, high-level understanding rather than a detailed examination.

casual inspection

Replaces "brief" with "casual" and "perusal" with "inspection", indicating a non-thorough assessment.

passing glance

Highlights the transient nature of the observation, implying minimal attention.

superficial survey

Emphasizes the lack of depth in the review, using "superficial" and "survey".

fleeting look

Replaces "perusal" with "look", highlighting the very short duration of the observation.

FAQs

How can I use "brief perusal" in a sentence?

You can use "brief perusal" to describe quickly reviewing a document or item. For example, "After a "brief perusal" of the contract, I signed it."

What's the difference between "brief perusal" and "thorough examination"?

"Brief perusal" suggests a quick, superficial look, whereas "thorough examination" implies a detailed and comprehensive review.

What can I say instead of "brief perusal"?

You can use alternatives like "quick scan", "cursory glance", or "rapid review" depending on the context.

Is "brief perusal" formal or informal?

"Brief perusal" leans towards a more formal tone compared to phrases like "quick look" but it is considered neutral and widely acceptable.