brief recap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brief recap" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a short summary or review of previous information. Example: "Before we move on to the next topic, let's do a brief recap of what we've covered so far."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A brief recap on 2005: Twitter didn't exist.

The Guardian - Tech

Here is a brief recap of the moves and countermoves.

The New York Times

FOR those who managed to miss the "Locationgate" brouhaha last week, a brief recap.

The Economist

Background A brief recap: The fighting in Syria was initially lopsided.

The New York Times

A brief recap of immigration politics seems to be in order.

The Washington Post

To do that, we need a very brief recap of human history.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The Quake" offers a brief recap of Haitian history, including the United States' sometimes shameful role, and interviews with government officials, relief workers and others.

The New York Times - Arts

A brief recap for those who are only belatedly tuning in to the New York gubernatorial race: it pits Andrew Cuomo, son of the former….

The New Yorker

Some characters must seem two-dimensional without knowing, beyond a brief recap, what has made them as they are: guilt-ridden, for instance, or melancholic.

The Economist

In a brief recap of the history of televised debates, the Egyptian channels then moved on to an early clash on French television.

The New York Times

A brief recap: In September 2012, Mr. Mitchell was the recently appointed chief whip, the cabinet minister charged with maintaining coalition discipline in Parliament.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When starting a presentation or a new section in a document, use "brief recap" to remind the audience of key points already covered. This helps maintain context and improve comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "brief recap" in very short pieces of writing or speeches where the preceding information is already fresh in the audience's mind. It can sound redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brief recap" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an introduction to a summary. It indicates that what follows is a condensed review of information already presented or known. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and grammatically correct expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "brief recap" is a grammatically correct and very common noun phrase used to introduce a short summary or review. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, it serves the purpose of providing context and refreshing memory. When using this phrase, consider its suitability based on the length of the material being recapped to avoid redundancy. Alternatives such as "quick summary" or "short review" may be used depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quick summary

Replaces 'brief' with 'quick', emphasizing the speed of the summary.

short review

Substitutes 'recap' with 'review', focusing on the evaluative aspect.

concise overview

Uses 'concise' to stress brevity and 'overview' to indicate a general summary.

abridged summary

Replaces 'brief' with 'abridged', highlighting the shortened nature of the summary.

summary outline

Combining "summary" and "outline" to denote a structured, condensed overview.

short account

Uses 'account' instead of 'recap', implying a narrative-style summary.

condensed version

Offers an alternative by focusing on the reduction of content.

summary digest

Replacing 'recap' with 'digest', suggesting a collection of summarized information.

outline of main points

Provides a more descriptive alternative emphasizing the key elements.

snapshot summary

Conveys a quick and immediate overview.

FAQs

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

You can use "brief recap" to introduce a summary of previous information, for example: "Let's start with a brief recap of the main points from yesterday's meeting."

What can I say instead of "brief recap"?

You can use alternatives like "quick summary", "short review", or "concise overview" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "brief recap" or "briefly recap"?

"Brief recap" is a noun phrase, while "briefly recap" is a verb phrase. Use "brief recap" when introducing a summary (e.g., "Here's a brief recap"), and "briefly recap" when describing the act of summarizing (e.g., "Let's briefly recap the key points").

What's the difference between "brief summary" and "brief recap"?

While both phrases refer to a short overview, "brief recap" often implies a review of something previously discussed or known, whereas "brief summary" can refer to a concise overview of something new or old.