despite its brevity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite its brevity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to acknowledge that something is short in length but still significant or impactful. Example: "The poem was powerful, despite its brevity, leaving a lasting impression on the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Despite its brevity, it is every bit as striking and resonant as the feature presentation.

The Guardian - Film

Despite its brevity, it manages both to look closely and widely, tracking the history of a labourer who loses his family while at the same time chronicling in miniature the history of the American west.

The Guardian - Books

At no point during the this 30-minute session for Tank Magazine does he let up, so despite its brevity, it's a pretty exhausting experience in an amazing, hands-punching-the-sweaty-ceiling kind of way. Angus Harrison.

Vice

Despite its brevity, it shows good internal reliability, good evidence of factorial validity and it is sensitive to patient changes.

BMC Psychiatry

But it was magnificently full despite its brevity.

The Guardian - Sport

This treatise has received an unusual amount of attention, despite its brevity and compressed argument, because it is the first Arabic work to show the influence of Greek taxonomies of the intellect into levels or types.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

And despite its relative brevity, it seems to embody all the symbolic freedoms that distinguish America from the rest of the world.

Huffington Post

With 30 dancers, "Variations on a Theme by Haydn" is a big ballet despite its relative brevity.

The New York Times - Arts

Some African historians believe that, despite its relative brevity, the impact of colonialism on Africa has been of epic proportions, deep and wide-ranging.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite its relative brevity -- Mr. Bresnick put its running time at six and a half minutes -- the piece will fit squarely among the set's other selections, short works by Brahms, Schumann and another Yale composer, Ezra Laderman, among others.

The New York Times

Its brevity makes it very ambiguous and hard to understand.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite its brevity" to acknowledge a limitation in length while highlighting the impact or effectiveness of something. This adds a nuanced perspective to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "despite its brevity" when the length is irrelevant to the point you're making. The phrase is most effective when the shortness is a potential drawback that is overcome by other qualities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite its brevity" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it introduces a contrasting element, acknowledging the short length while emphasizing a positive attribute or impact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "despite its brevity" is a common and grammatically correct way to acknowledge a limitation in length while emphasizing a positive quality or impact. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that the shortness is relevant to the overall message and that you aim to highlight a contrasting element. Alternatives such as "in spite of its shortness" or "even though it is brief" can be used for slight variations in tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of its shortness

Replaces "brevity" with "shortness", a more common synonym.

even though it is brief

Uses a more direct and common phrasing to express the same idea.

despite its concise nature

Rephrases to emphasize the quality of being concise.

although it is concise

Substitutes "brevity" with "concise", emphasizing the succinct nature.

notwithstanding its conciseness

Employs a more formal tone while keeping the core meaning.

regardless of its limited length

Focuses on the "limited length" aspect, providing a slightly different emphasis.

even with its succinctness

Highlights the quick and efficient nature of the subject.

while being short

Simplifies the structure to a more basic construction.

although not lengthy

Uses a double negative to emphasize the shortness.

short as it may be

Inverts the structure for a more literary feel.

FAQs

How can I use "despite its brevity" in a sentence?

Use "despite its brevity" to show that something is effective or impactful even though it is short. For example: "The speech was powerful, "despite its brevity", and moved many to tears."

What are some alternatives to "despite its brevity"?

Alternatives include "in spite of its shortness", "even though it is brief", or "although it is concise". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is it correct to say "in spite of its brevity" instead of "despite its brevity"?

Yes, "in spite of its brevity" is a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative. The choice between "despite" and "in spite of" is often a matter of stylistic preference.

Can "despite its brevity" be used to describe anything, or only written works?

"Despite its brevity" can describe various things, including speeches, meetings, visits, and even periods of time. It's applicable whenever something's shortness contrasts with its impact or significance.