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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

briefs

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "briefs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can either refer to a pair of men's underwear or a summary of a longer document. For example, you could say, "I read the executive briefs for the meeting before I arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A handy way to distinguish a government announcement inspired more by politics than its actual policy outcome is when the prime minister's office briefs (some) newspapers about it before it has been considered by the cabinet.

News & Media

The Guardian

The Guardian and other news organisations are filing supporting briefs, arguing that if the company loses, the US government could come after news organisations by targeting emails and other information stored overseas.

Though he had always promised to commit suicide during a show, a defeated Allin finally walked off stage in Manhattan in June 1993, sporting just soiled briefs, his body smeared with blood and droppings, and into a fatal heroin overdose.

She would use these briefs in the meetings, interlarding them with her own comments.

News & Media

The Guardian

The oral argument is the public face of the case, sure, but it's important to remember that it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the material that will contribute to the court's decision – particularly in a case like this, with 136 amicus briefs.

The other ministers, apart from speaking to their ministerial briefs, often reminisced from their own experience or that of their children, which was not particularly relevant to the development of a national curriculum for state-sector education.

News & Media

The Guardian

The "desire to forestall social change," the Kentucky brief says, is "not a legitimate state interest".The petitioners' briefs do a creditable job of exposing the apparent illogic behind the states' bans on same-sex marriage.

News & Media

The Economist

Add in the dozens of amicus briefs from people and organisations who feel they have a stake in the outcome, and the justices (and journalists) have quite a lot of reading to do.

News & Media

The Economist

A written decision could be handed down as early as this month, but the judges may take their time given the growing importance of the case.No less than four amicus briefs (filings by someone not party to the case) have been received and not just from the usual suspects.

News & Media

The Economist

The distraught couple realized that unless they obtained a court order, John's death certificate, his final record as a person and as a citizen of Ohio, would not reflect and respect [their] 20-year relationship and legal marriage.It is impossible to read the briefs and come away with the impression that gay marriage bans are harmless.

News & Media

The Economist

The briefs also point to Zablocki v Redhail, a 1978 case in which the justices struck down a law declaring that people who had fallen behind on their child support were ineligible to marry.

News & Media

The Economist
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "briefs" in legal contexts, ensure clarity. If referring to undergarments, consider using "underpants" or "underclothing" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "briefs" without context, especially when discussing sensitive topics. Readers might misinterpret the intended meaning. Specify "legal briefs" or "underpants" to avoid confusion.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "briefs" is as a plural noun. Ludwig AI's analysis shows it referring to both legal documents (legal briefs) and undergarments. The function varies based on context, and can also function as the third person singular present tense of the verb brief.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

32%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "briefs" is a versatile word with multiple meanings, primarily functioning as a plural noun. As Ludwig AI highlights, it commonly refers to legal documents or undergarments, its meaning heavily dependent on context. To ensure clarity, particularly in formal writing, specifying "legal briefs" or "underpants" can mitigate ambiguity. Given its frequent use in news and media, understanding the context is crucial to interpreting the intended meaning. While grammatically correct, mindful application ensures precise communication.

FAQs

How can I use "briefs" in a sentence?

You can use "briefs" to refer to legal documents, as in, "The lawyers filed their briefs with the court." Or, you can use it to refer to underwear, as in, "He was wearing briefs under his trousers."

What can I say instead of "briefs" when referring to summaries?

You can use alternatives like "summaries", "reports", or "outlines" depending on the context.

What's the difference between legal "briefs" and other types of summaries?

Legal "briefs" are specific documents submitted to a court, outlining the legal arguments and facts of a case. Other summaries are more general overviews of information.

Which is correct, "briefs" or "legal briefs"?

"Briefs" is correct when the context makes it clear you're referring to legal documents. However, "legal briefs" provides more clarity and is preferable when there's a risk of ambiguity.

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Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: