for a short visit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a short visit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a brief stay or trip to a place, often implying a temporary or casual nature of the visit. Example: "I will be in town for a short visit next week and would love to catch up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Writer went over to E. Berlin for a short visit.

The New Yorker

Shortly afterwards, Richler came for a short visit to London.

The Guardian

He was just stopping for a short visit.

The New Yorker

Contrast that to my bags' journey after I landed in Tokyo recently for a short visit home.

The New York Times

Ms. Contreras, 40, was prepared for a short visit, but the physician seemed to have all the time in the world.

The New York Times - Health

Twice a month, he boards a bus to Santiago, Chile's capital, traveling 11 hours each way for a short visit with a psychiatrist.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Roger van Zwanenberg, the publisher of Pluto Press, the London imprint that released Shahzad's book, told me that members of British intelligence had asked Shahzad for help during a short visit that he made to London in March.

The New Yorker

When you poll psychiatrists, 90% of them said they could not evaluate someone for major depression in a short visit.

Los Angeles Times

This is why we are going to stop bidding for 15-minute homecare contracts, unless the person specifically requests a short visit, for example to receive an injection.

The Guardian

Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness were on a short visit for investment meetings.

BBC

He appears and disappears constantly, to work as head ranger in the nearby national park, to cut timbers for our buildings, returning to pay a short visit to his new family.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for a short visit" to clearly convey that someone is not staying for an extended period, avoiding any misunderstanding about the duration of their stay. This is particularly useful when clarifying expectations or making arrangements.

Common error

Avoid using "for a short visit" without providing additional context if the expected duration might be ambiguous. What one person considers short, another may not. Be specific if necessary, e.g., "for a short, two-day visit."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a short visit" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, noun, or clause. According to Ludwig, it is used to describe the duration and purpose of a visit. It specifies that the visit is not a long-term stay but a temporary one.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a short visit" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate a temporary stay. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples reveals its prevalent use in news, media and scientific contexts, emphasizing its role in clarifying the duration of a visit. The phrase exhibits a neutral register and is versatile enough for diverse communication needs. If you aim to convey brevity and temporality, "for a short visit" is a suitable and widely understood choice. Ludwig also provides several alternative options, if you wish to express the same concept but with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a brief visit

Replaces 'short' with 'brief', emphasizing the concise duration of the visit.

for a quick visit

Substitutes 'short' with 'quick', highlighting the speed and brevity of the visit.

for a short stay

Replaces 'visit' with 'stay', focusing on the duration of time spent in a location.

for a fleeting visit

Uses 'fleeting' instead of 'short', emphasizing the transient nature of the visit.

for a temporary visit

Replaces 'short' with 'temporary', stressing the limited duration of the visit.

for a flying visit

Uses 'flying' to describe the visit, implying a very swift and brief stay.

for a brief stop

Substitutes 'visit' with 'stop', indicating a short pause or break in a journey.

for a limited visit

Emphasizes that the visit is subject to a limited time frame.

for a whistle-stop visit

Describes the visit as extremely quick, allowing only a brief glimpse.

for a snatched visit

Suggests that the visit is obtained quickly and perhaps unexpectedly from another activity.

FAQs

How can I use "for a short visit" in a sentence?

You can use "for a short visit" to describe a brief stay or trip, as in, "I'm coming to New York "for a short visit" next week."

What are some alternatives to saying "for a short visit"?

Alternatives include "for a brief stay", "for a quick trip", or "for a fleeting visit", each emphasizing the limited duration of the visit.

Is it more formal to say "for a brief visit" instead of "for a short visit"?

While both are acceptable, "for a brief visit" may be perceived as slightly more formal than ""for a short visit"", but the difference is minimal.

When should I use "for a short visit" over other similar phrases?

Use "for a short visit" when you want to emphasize the temporary and non-committal nature of the visit. Other phrases might emphasize speed or formality, but ""for a short visit"" focuses simply on the limited timeframe.