brief than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brief than" is not correct in English.
It is likely a mistaken combination of "briefer than" or "more brief than," which are the correct forms to compare brevity. Example: "This summary is briefer than the previous one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It is less a legal brief than the cri de coeur of a wounded man.

The New York Times

It would be very hard to get more brief than that.

The New Yorker

Worded differently and more brief than UN account but no difference in substance".

The Guardian

As regular readers of Krugman might expect, "The Great Unraveling" is more of a prosecutor's brief than a history book.

The New Yorker

Some elements are clearer, some even foggier than they were before and my brief thoughts have been less brief than I imagined".

The Guardian

Mr. Pistorius's limb-repositioning times are 15.7 percent more brief than five of the fastest male sprinters in recorded human history".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Please forgive me if the posts are briefer than usual.

The New York Times

First, his candidacy was far briefer than, say, Mr. Carter's.

The New York Times

Cameron's life in politics is even briefer than Ed Balls'.

The Guardian

The preliminaries for the fight were briefer than usual because it was televised to the East.

The New Yorker

A gust is briefer than a squall and usually lasts 20 seconds or less.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "briefer than" or "more brief than" when comparing the brevity of two things. For example: "This summary is briefer than the previous one."

Common error

Using "brief than" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, correctly use the comparative forms "briefer than" or "more brief than" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brief than" functions incorrectly as a comparative. It attempts to compare the degree of brevity between two subjects. However, as Ludwig AI explains, the correct forms for this comparison are "briefer than" or "more brief than".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "brief than" appears in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "briefer than" or "more brief than". As Ludwig AI indicates, it's crucial to use the correct comparative forms to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity in writing. Although the intended meaning is often clear from the context, using "briefer than" or "more brief than" will always be more appropriate, especially in formal and professional settings. Pay attention to using the correct forms to avoid errors and maintain writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Shorter than

Focuses on length, directly replacing "brief" with a more common synonym.

Not as long as

A more basic and straightforward way to express comparison of length or time.

Less lengthy than

Uses a different adjective to describe length, emphasizing a lower degree of length.

More concise than

Emphasizes succinctness and lack of unnecessary detail, altering the focus slightly.

More succinct than

Highlights the economy of words and precision in communication.

Of shorter duration than

Specifies time, making it suitable when "brief" refers to a time period.

Condensed compared to

Implies a reduction in size or length through a deliberate process.

Smaller in scope than

Shifts the focus to the extent or range covered, rather than just length.

More abbreviated than

Highlights the use of shortening or contraction.

More ephemeral than

Describes something that lasts for a very short time.

FAQs

Is "brief than" grammatically correct?

No, "brief than" is not grammatically correct. The correct comparative forms are "briefer than" or "more brief than".

What's the difference between "briefer than" and "more brief than"?

Both "briefer than" and "more brief than" are grammatically correct ways to compare the brevity of two items. "Briefer" is the comparative form of the adjective "brief", while "more brief" uses the adverb "more" to modify the adjective. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, although "briefer" is generally more concise.

What can I say instead of "brief than"?

Since "brief than" is incorrect, use alternatives like "briefer than", "more brief than", "shorter than", or "more concise than" depending on the context.

When should I use "briefer than" versus "more brief than"?

Use "briefer than" when you want a concise comparison. "More brief than" can be used for emphasis or in situations where the flow sounds better, but "briefer" is generally preferred for its simplicity.