briefed him on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "briefed him on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that someone has been informed or updated about a particular topic or situation. Example: "The manager briefed him on the new project developments during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

In the office, Donna's mother handed Foos some mail and briefed him on the maids' schedules.

The New Yorker

Waiting for the pilot to finish her safety check, an aide briefed him on the day's events.

The New York Times

On that trip, he adds, City's Argentinian contingent briefed him on everything from "the speed and intensity of the games" in England to fish and chips.

Independent

So like any good journalist he over-prepared, calling on think tank after think tank to briefed him on all the relevant subjects.

Vice

The chairman of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority greeted Mr. Lake at the camps and briefed him on the devastation caused by the floods.

Unicef

He was in fact being whipsawed, losing money on both sides of his bet, and he couldn't believe it, screaming at one point, "This can't be happening!" As his staff briefed him on what had gone wrong the failed hedges, the size of his position Fink began to realize it was happening: The end of his world.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

For eight hours, a special Pentagon representative briefed them on matters of strategy and the future.

The New York Times

Rather than commit to the debate and dialogue Corbyn so desperately wanted, several briefed against him and made public their disagreements with the leader who had empowered them.

Independent

Two senior advisers to Mr. Obama Gayle Smithth, an expert on African affairs and developing nations, and Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a health policy expert — briefed advocacy groups on the plans on Tuesday, while Mr. Lew made a surprise appearance at the regular White House briefing to talk to reporters.

The New York Times

Hospital staff and key personnel were briefed and trained on the project one week prior to the PFA.

Global health, science and practice

While the commissioners are briefed weekly on enforcement cases, over the last three months they have only been briefed twice as a group on the status of the MF Global investigation, according to people close to the commission.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "briefed him on", ensure the context clearly indicates what information was conveyed. Providing specific details strengthens the sentence.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice excessively. Instead of "He was briefed on the matter", opt for active constructions like "The expert "briefed him on" the matter" for a more direct and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "briefed him on" functions as a verb phrase where 'briefed' is the past tense of the verb 'to brief', 'him' is a pronoun, and 'on' is a preposition. This construction typically indicates the action of providing someone with essential information or updates about a specific subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "briefed him on" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that someone has provided information or updates to another person. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is perfectly usable in English. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Formal & Business contexts. While alternatives like "updated him on" or "informed him about" exist, "briefed him on" specifically suggests a concise and focused delivery of information. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what information was conveyed. Overusing passive voice should be avoided for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

updated him on

Replaces 'briefed' with 'updated', emphasizing providing the latest information.

informed him about

Uses 'informed' instead of 'briefed', focusing on the act of imparting knowledge.

advised him about

Implies giving advice along with information, adding a layer of guidance.

filled him in on

Informal alternative to 'briefed', suggesting a more casual update.

apprised him of

More formal and emphasizes making someone aware of something.

brought him up to speed on

Focuses on quickly getting someone acquainted with current information.

instructed him on

Emphasizes providing instructions or guidance.

counseled him on

Suggests a deeper, more advisory conversation.

enlightened him about

Focuses on revealing new or previously unknown information.

schooled him in

Implies teaching or training someone in a particular subject.

FAQs

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

You can use "briefed him on" to indicate that someone provided information or updates to another person. For example, "The general "briefed him on" the latest developments in the field."

What are some alternatives to "briefed him on"?

Some alternatives to "briefed him on" include "updated him on", "informed him about", or "filled him in on" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "briefed him on" and "informed him about"?

"Briefed him on" typically implies a concise and focused delivery of information, while "informed him about" is a more general term for conveying knowledge.

When is it appropriate to use "briefed him on" versus "updated him on"?

Use "briefed him on" when providing initial or essential information. Use "updated him on" when providing the latest changes or developments. In many cases, the phrases are interchangeable.