for a brief second

USAGE SUMMARY

"for a brief second" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe a short period of time, for example: "She paused for a brief second before continuing her speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

For a brief second, the flags of scores of nations were bent downward by the blast.

The New York Times

For a brief second, the old man seemed at a loss.

The New Yorker

For a brief second I wondered if he somehow had seen me through the television.

The New Yorker

"For a brief second in time, we were all a community".

The New York Times

For a brief second there is silence, as everyone turns and looks at each other, confused.

The Guardian - Sport

The author says: "The jogger will be forced to stop for a brief second which will deeply disturb them.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

A smile was genuinely exchanged between the customer and the vendor, even if for only a brief second, and the customers walked away with a happier expression and the sustained smile.

Huffington Post

Shawn's lone appearance was for a brief fourth-quarter kickoff.

The Washington Post

The Giants fell behind by two touchdowns early, turned the ball over to the Rams three times, never established their running game, and except for a brief third-quarter comeback, never played with any rhythm or confidence.

The New York Times - Sports

Trinity's win lifts them to fourth and they rarely looked under threat from the Red Devils, but for a brief second-half rally.

BBC

For a moment -- just a brief second of enchantment -- I felt weightless, a moth riding light.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for a brief second" to clearly indicate a very short duration, especially when describing actions or observations that happen quickly.

Common error

While "for a brief second" is acceptable, avoid using it repetitively in close succession. Vary your language with alternatives like "momentarily" or "instantaneously" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a brief second" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the duration of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in modifying verbs, highlighting its role in specifying the timing of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for a brief second" is a grammatically correct and very common adverbial phrase used to indicate a very short duration. As Ludwig AI points out, it appears frequently in News & Media and academic contexts, signifying a neutral register appropriate for diverse writing styles. While alternatives like "momentarily" or "for a split second" exist, using "for a brief second" effectively conveys the swiftness of an action or observation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a split second

Replaces "brief" with "split" to emphasize the extreme shortness of the time.

for a fraction of a second

Highlights the brevity of the time by quantifying it as a "fraction".

just for a second

Adds "just" for emphasis, slightly altering the tone.

for a fleeting moment

Substitutes "brief second" with "fleeting moment", highlighting the ephemeral nature of the time.

for a mere second

Adds "mere" to downplay the significance of the duration.

momentarily

Single-word adverb replacing the entire phrase for brevity.

for an instant

Replaces "brief second" with the single word "instant", offering a more concise alternative.

for a short time

Uses a more general term "time" instead of "second", broadening the expression.

in a flash

Emphasizes the suddenness and quickness of the event.

in a heartbeat

Emphasizes the immediacy and near-instantaneous nature of the time.

FAQs

How can I use "for a brief second" in a sentence?

You can use "for a brief second" to describe something that happens very quickly, such as "She hesitated "for a brief second" before answering the question".

What are some alternatives to "for a brief second"?

Alternatives include "momentarily", "for a split second", or "in a flash", depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it more formal to say "for a brief moment" or "for a brief second"?

Both "for a brief moment" and "for a brief second" are generally considered neutral in formality. The choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

What's the difference between "for a brief second" and "for a few seconds"?

"For a brief second" indicates a very short, almost instantaneous duration, while "for a few seconds" suggests a slightly longer, though still short, period of time. The subtle difference is that "for a few seconds" indicates multiple seconds.