briefed him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "briefed him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of providing someone with information or instructions, typically in a concise manner. Example: "Before the meeting, I briefed him on the key points we needed to discuss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"She briefed him.

The New York Times

Mr. Alamoudi briefed him on how plans were progressing.

The New York Times

I had briefed him to play something disturbing.

The Guardian

In return, ministry officials have briefed him on policy, while keeping Mrs Tanaka in the dark.

The Economist

"Let me ask a fundamental question," Curran said later that morning, after de Soto briefed him.

The New York Times - Magazine

Two aides briefed him on the upcoming event and urged him to stick to the written text.

The New Yorker

As the two men watched the hotel, Agent Kim briefed him on the case.

The New York Times

Mr. Horton said Dr. Lautner had briefed him on the incidents several weeks ago.

The New York Times

Another call was from his daughter Jennifer, who briefed him on a successful Women for Thompson phone-bank event.

The New York Times

He said that the police chief would not look him in the eyes when he briefed him.

The New Yorker

The matchmakers found a third candidate, Mr. Tragatsch, and briefed him on Ms. Tanzer.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "briefed him", ensure the context clearly indicates the purpose and scope of the briefing. For instance, specify the topic or area on which he was briefed to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "briefed him" without providing context about the subject matter. Saying "I briefed him" is vague; instead, specify what you briefed him on (e.g., "I briefed him on the marketing strategy").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "briefed him" functions as a verb phrase, where "briefed" is the past tense of the verb "to brief", and "him" is the object pronoun. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, indicating it's a standard way to describe the action of providing someone with essential information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "briefed him" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that means to provide someone with essential information or instructions in a concise manner. Ludwig AI confirms it's correctness. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register, making it versatile for diverse communication scenarios. While alternatives like "informed him" or "updated him" exist, "briefed him" specifically implies preparation or imparting crucial details. When employing this phrase, ensure sufficient context is provided regarding the briefing's topic to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

informed him

Focuses on simply conveying information without specifying the depth or preparation involved.

updated him

Implies bringing someone up to speed on recent developments or changes.

advised him

Suggests providing guidance or recommendations based on expertise or knowledge.

instructed him

Focuses on giving specific directions or commands for a particular task.

filled him in

An informal way of saying that someone was given necessary details.

gave him the details

Emphasizes the act of providing specific pieces of information.

prepared him

Highlights the act of getting someone ready through instruction.

schooled him

Suggests teaching someone a lesson or providing thorough instruction, often in an informal way.

apprised him of

A more formal way to say that someone was made aware of something.

enlightened him

Implies revealing previously unknown or misunderstood information.

FAQs

What does "briefed him" mean?

The phrase "briefed him" means to give someone essential information or instructions in a concise manner, usually in preparation for a task, meeting, or event.

How can I use "briefed him" in a sentence?

You can use "briefed him" in sentences like, "The manager "briefed him" on the project's goals before the presentation" or "The intelligence officer "briefed him" about the potential threats".

What are some alternatives to "briefed him"?

Alternatives to "briefed him" include "informed him", "updated him", or "filled him in". The best choice depends on the context and the level of detail provided.

Is "briefed him" formal or informal?

"Briefed him" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "apprised him of" may be preferred in highly formal settings.