cursory information

USAGE SUMMARY

'cursory information' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to brief information or a basic overview of something. For example: "I quickly skimmed through the article to get a cursory information on the latest developments in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

In any case, she's new to me as a playwright, and even the most cursory information about her is tough to come by.

The New York Times

The report contains cursory information about the deaths, including the names of the dead children, dates of birth and death, and case status.

The New York Times

Cohen conceded that Trump Jr. might have had only "cursory information," about what was afoot, though Trump and the COO of the Trump organization were intimately involved.

The Washington Post

The strife also included the 71-day standoff between AIM members and federal troops in 1973 at Wounded Knee, S.D. Tom Poor Bear, the tribe's vice president, said Tuesday that in many cases, families of the dead had received only cursory information from federal law enforcement agencies about their relatives.

The New York Times

At first, I only cared about games, but the access to so much cursory information made me want to go off and see what I could learn outside of a message board.

Vice

A common scenario: The board and staff assess what they perceive as the organization's strengths and assets, review the data assembled by the staff and consultants, including cursory information on the organization's operating environment and project new goals for variations on what the organization did at the onset of the planning process.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Most of them seem to get thrown to the wolves – shown a cursory amount of information about the cash register and tossed out onto the sales floor to sink or swim.

Forbes

Elaborate, lavish illustration also does not make a book worthwhile if the text is cursory or the information, skimpy and inaccurate.

Los Angeles Times

As even a cursory overview at the Information Age will tell you, nothing is really free: you pay the price when you don't get the real story.

The New York Times

Its flaws were exposed sometimes after what the report indicated was a cursory examination of the information or sources on which the conclusions were based.

The New York Times

Yet, from a cursory look, without apparent information about this document, we cannot know how it came to be among her papers, nor what role this event played in Dr. townes's life and education.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cursory information" to introduce a topic, signaling that more detailed investigation may be required.

Common error

Don't present "cursory information" as comprehensive. Always indicate that it's a brief overview, not an exhaustive analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cursory information" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where 'cursory' modifies 'information'. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes information that is brief or a basic overview. The examples show it used to describe initial assessments or limited knowledge.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cursory information" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates a brief or basic overview of a topic. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. With a neutral register, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and academia. While common, it's essential to clarify the scope to avoid misinterpretations and to signal when more detailed investigation is needed. Alternatives like "brief details" or "basic information" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited information

Stresses the restricted amount of information available.

basic information

Emphasizes the fundamental nature of the information provided.

preliminary information

Highlights the initial stage of information gathering.

general information

Suggests information that is not specific or detailed.

summary details

Highlights the condensed nature of the details.

brief details

Focuses on the brevity of the information.

surface-level details

Implies a quick and shallow examination of the information.

superficial information

Indicates a lack of depth in the information.

initial data

Refers to the starting point of collected information.

scant information

Emphasizes the meagerness of the information.

FAQs

How can I use "cursory information" in a sentence?

You might say, "After a cursory review of the data, we identified some initial trends" or "The report provided only cursory information about the incident".

What's a good alternative to "cursory information"?

Consider using alternatives such as "brief details", "basic information", or "limited information" depending on the context.

Is "cursory information" the same as "detailed information"?

No, "cursory information" implies a superficial or brief overview, whereas "detailed information" suggests a thorough and comprehensive analysis.

When is it appropriate to provide "cursory information"?

It is appropriate when introducing a topic, providing a preliminary overview, or when time or resources are limited. However, ensure it's not mistaken for complete data.