explaining briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explaining briefly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when providing an explanation, but in fewer words than the typical explanation. For example, "I understand that you don't quite grasp the concept, so let me explain briefly: the basic idea is that..."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This chapter presents an overview of structural optimization, explaining briefly the different types which include size, shape, and topology optimization.

Topology Design Methods for Structural Optimization

After explaining, briefly and precisely, why his team had fallen so heavily at a grim afternoon's final fence, Romania's coach Emerich Ienei was asked his opinion on his team's final group fixture against England in Charleroi tomorrow night.

The Guardian - Sport

In exchange for a range of prizes below we want those working within the voluntary sector to tweet in a photo of themselves, like in the picture gallery here, to @gdnvoluntary hash-tagged with #lovemycharity, explaining briefly why "they love the voluntary sector/their charity".

The Guardian

The app will respond (using a human voice actor's voice, not Alexa's) by explaining briefly what Scout.fm does then asks you to choose one of three types of talk radio stations: "Daily news, brain food, or true stories".

TechCrunch

An invitation letter was sent by e-mail to all eligible residents, explaining briefly the project goal and describing in detail the participation requirements and the different aspects of confidentiality, along with the consent form and an invitation to call the study coordinator if they needed more detailed information on the study requirements.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Explaining briefly, pillar-like nanostructures can be fabricated by the O2 and CF4 two-step RIE process because, by controlling the RIE conditions appropriately, CF4-resistant CxFy polymeric mask is automatically and selectively deposited during the CF4 RIE process on the top of the dot-like nanostructures of the PMMA resist, which are formed during the preceding O2 RIE process.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

We will explain briefly this result as well.

University of California, Berkeley

May I explain briefly why I could not examine him before the Commission?

Yale University

The comments in this file explain, briefly, the meaning of the fields in this file.

Columbia University

How we got into the mess we're in, explained briefly and brilliantly.

The New York Times - Books

Future projects to utilize the established technology will be also explained briefly.

Acta Astronautica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "explaining briefly" to introduce a simplified or shortened version of a more complex topic. It signals to the reader that you will be concise.

Common error

Avoid using "explaining briefly" when the topic requires a detailed and nuanced explanation. Oversimplifying can lead to misunderstanding or misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explaining briefly" functions as an introductory gerund phrase, modifying a main clause by indicating the manner in which information will be conveyed. It sets the expectation for a concise explanation. Ludwig confirms its valid usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "explaining briefly" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to introduce a concise explanation and is versatile enough for various contexts, particularly in science, news, and academia. While it's essential to avoid oversimplification, using "explaining briefly" effectively signals brevity to the reader. Alternative phrases like "briefly explaining" or "concisely explaining" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

briefly explaining

Inverts the order of the words, keeping the meaning identical.

concisely explaining

Replaces "briefly" with a synonym that emphasizes brevity and clarity.

explaining in short

Uses a more informal expression to indicate a shortened explanation.

sketching out briefly

Suggests a preliminary or outline-like explanation.

summarizing quickly

Focuses on the act of summarizing rather than a general explanation.

giving a brief explanation

Transforms the phrase into a noun phrase, emphasizing the explanation itself.

presenting a short account

Substitutes "explaining" with "presenting a short account" to convey the same idea.

touching on briefly

Implies a superficial or light treatment of the topic.

outlining succinctly

Combines the idea of outlining with conciseness.

addressing quickly

Replaces the term explaining and use addressing, transforming its function.

FAQs

How can I use "explaining briefly" in a sentence?

You can use "explaining briefly" to introduce a concise explanation. For example, "Explaining briefly, the theory suggests that..." or "Let me explain briefly what happened".

What are some alternatives to "explaining briefly"?

You can use alternatives like "briefly explaining", "concisely explaining", or "summarizing quickly" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "explaining briefly"?

It's appropriate to use "explaining briefly" when you want to give a simplified version of something or when time/space is limited, and a full explanation isn't possible.

Is "explaining briefly" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "explaining briefly" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, but consider your audience and the context. In highly formal contexts, a more precise term like "summarizing succinctly" might be preferred.