glanced briefly at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "glanced briefly at" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a quick or fleeting look at something or someone. Example: "She glanced briefly at the clock before returning to her work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Now he didn't say anything, barely reacted, just glanced briefly at the scoreboard.

The Guardian - Sport

He glanced briefly at his own reflection in his mirrored ashtray.

The Guardian - Books

He glanced briefly at the court gallery before conferring with his lawyer, Edward R. Harris, and a Pashtun interpreter.

The New York Times

They glanced briefly at my dance before returning their focus to hot dogs and crinkle-cut fries.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Cordero glanced briefly at his pregnant sister, who was sitting opposite Ms. McCallum's parents, as he entered the courtroom.

The New York Times

Every now and then, she glanced briefly at the tall, dark girl across the aisle, as if to make sure she was still sitting there.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Van der Graaf looked relieved, glancing briefly at his lawyers before being led away.

The Guardian

But the most important thing to remember," she says, glancing briefly at my hair, "is that we are not lions on the Serengeti.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At one point, they were the last two in the crowded courtroom to take their seats and found themselves glancing briefly at each other.

The New York Times

And, though I've never met most of them in real life, I'm #blessed to have this modest group of mostly strangers I can trust to glance briefly at, and perhaps fave, an adorable uncredited pic of a dog wearing a hat that I found on Tumb — What's this?

The New Yorker

Show him you want to kiss, use the common hints like tilting your head slightly, glancing briefly at his lips etc. Get comfortable.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing dialogue, "glanced briefly at" can be a subtle way to show a character's reaction or thought process without explicitly stating it.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "glanced briefly at" for every instance of a quick look. Vary your vocabulary with words like 'spied', 'peeked', or 'darted' to add nuance and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "glanced briefly at" functions as a verb phrase indicating a quick and often casual or unobtrusive look at something or someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "glanced briefly at" is a grammatically sound phrase used to depict a fleeting look. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not extremely common, it appears in various sources, mainly news and media, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples. Consider related phrases like "took a quick glance at" for variety. Avoid overuse, opting for more descriptive verbs when appropriate. The phrase serves to convey a short, often subtle observation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took a quick glance at

Replaces "glanced briefly at" with a synonym of 'glance' and 'briefly'.

gave a fleeting look at

Uses "fleeting look" instead of "glanced briefly", emphasizing the short duration of the look.

cast a swift glance at

Employs "cast" and "swift" to convey the speed of the glance.

shot a quick look at

Replaces 'glanced' with 'shot', indicating a sudden, brief look.

peered momentarily at

Uses "peered" and "momentarily" to describe a very short duration of looking.

looked fleetingly at

Emphasizes the transient nature of the glance by using 'fleetingly'.

checked momentarily

Implies a brief look for the purpose of checking something.

had a glimpse of

Focuses on catching only a quick view.

gave a cursory look to

Highlights the perfunctory nature of the glance.

skimmed over

Implies reading something very quickly.

FAQs

How can I use "glanced briefly at" in a sentence?

Use "glanced briefly at" to describe a short, quick look at someone or something, often without prolonged attention. For instance, "He "glanced briefly at" the clock before continuing his work".

What are some alternatives to "glanced briefly at"?

You can use alternatives such as "took a quick glance at", "gave a fleeting look at", or "cast a swift glance at" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "glanced briefly" together?

While 'glanced' already implies a quick look, using "glanced briefly at" emphasizes the fleeting nature of the look, adding a layer of detail. However, consider whether the addition is necessary for clarity.

What's the difference between "glanced briefly at" and "stared at"?

"Glanced briefly at" describes a very quick look, while "stared at" implies a long, intense look. They are opposites in terms of duration and intensity.