but fleetingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but fleetingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs briefly or momentarily, often in contrast to something more lasting. Example: "The beauty of the sunset captivated me, but fleetingly, as the darkness quickly enveloped the sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Serious issues concerning hunger, genetically altered foods, agribusiness and body image are addressed, but fleetingly.

The New York Times - Food

The implications of Facebook's impact on our attitudes to privacy and friendship are touched on, but fleetingly.

The Guardian - Tech

This effect really is uncanny, like the moments in Beckett's plays where characters suddenly but fleetingly suggest that they're aware of the audience.

The New York Times - Arts

The music is a gripping procession of half-lighted swirls, plaintive melodic gestures and stark, violent outbursts; light emerges but fleetingly, penetrating now and again through a dense, near-motionless ooze of moaning strings, growling brass and agitated percussion.

The New York Times - Arts

While that case was not under deliberation in the Supreme Court this week (an eventuality about which Bonauto admitted to being slightly, but fleetingly, disappointed), her work ambitions have been motivated a broad desire for equality rather than a need for personal recognition.

The New York Times

McQueen's film has lots of it — huffing and puffing, pumping backsides and writhing limbs and grimacing faces — and it's got bodies: Fassbender's, full frontal but fleetingly, in shadow, at a distance, or, most grotesquely, seen from behind and below, urinating; Carey Mulligan's, naked but in side view; and a few other women, in a variety of stages of undress.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Musica Sacra sounded better here, but only fleetingly: when the music was loud, the choir was fine, but in quieter passages attacks were imprecise and balances awry, particularly in the sopranos and altos.

The New York Times - Arts

But only fleetingly.

The Guardian

But this fleetingly entertaining film presents the woman's.

The Guardian - Film

Individuals who appear to have easy answers flourish, but only fleetingly.

Independent

In the heavier passages of the earlier sonatas the phrasing can sound laboured, but only fleetingly.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but fleetingly" to introduce a contrast where something is briefly present or considered, before being superseded or dismissed. For example: "The possibility of success seemed real, but fleetingly."

Common error

Avoid using "but fleetingly" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound less precise than alternatives like "briefly" or "momentarily".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but fleetingly" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically used to qualify a verb or adjective by indicating the brief or transient nature of an action or state. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase adds nuance by contrasting a momentary occurrence with a more lasting condition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Arts

17%

Film

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

4%

Sport

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but fleetingly" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that something occurs briefly or momentarily. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. While versatile, it's more suited to neutral or formal writing. The phrase functions to introduce a contrast, showing something is briefly present before fading. When writing, consider whether alternatives like "yet briefly" or "though momentarily" might be more appropriate, especially in highly formal contexts. Avoid overuse to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet briefly

Replaces "fleetingly" with "briefly" and "but" with "yet", altering the conjunction while maintaining the core meaning of transience.

though momentarily

Substitutes "but" with "though" and "fleetingly" with "momentarily", emphasizing the temporary nature of the action or state.

however transiently

Replaces "but" with "however" and "fleetingly" with "transiently", conveying a sense of brief existence or appearance.

only for a moment

Offers a more explicit description of the short duration, replacing "but fleetingly" with a phrase indicating a very brief period.

just for an instant

Similar to "only for a moment", this emphasizes the extremely short duration of the event or feeling.

briefly though

Inverts the structure while retaining a sense of contrast and shortness, emphasizing the brevity.

momentarily, yet

Uses "momentarily" instead of "fleetingly" and reverses the order of the conjunction, highlighting the short duration.

for a short while however

Replaces "fleetingly" with "for a short while" and uses "however" instead of "but", giving a clearer indication of limited time.

in a flash, though

Emphasizes the sudden and quick nature of the occurrence, replacing "fleetingly" with a more figurative expression.

on the spur of the moment, yet

Indicates that something happens quickly and spontaneously, though only for a limited duration.

FAQs

How can I use "but fleetingly" in a sentence?

Use "but fleetingly" to indicate that something occurred briefly or momentarily, often in contrast to something more substantial or lasting. For example: "The sun peeked through the clouds, but fleetingly." Alternatively, you can use similar terms like "yet briefly" or "though momentarily".

What are some alternatives to "but fleetingly"?

You can replace "but fleetingly" with phrases like "only for a moment", "just for an instant", or "briefly though" to convey a similar meaning of transience. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to express.

Is it correct to say "but fleetingly"?

Yes, "but fleetingly" is grammatically correct and understandable. Ludwig confirms its usability. It's used to show a brief or temporary occurrence in contrast to something else. It's important to consider the register and audience when choosing this phrase, as more formal alternatives may be preferable in some contexts.

What's the difference between "but fleetingly" and "but briefly"?

Both "but fleetingly" and "but briefly" indicate something is short-lived, but "fleetingly" often carries a stronger sense of something disappearing quickly or being elusive. "Briefly" is more general, simply denoting a short duration.