had a briefing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a briefing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a meeting or session where information is presented or discussed, typically in a professional or military context. Example: "After we had a briefing with the project team, we felt more prepared to tackle the upcoming challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

President Obama reportedly had a briefing on Egypt Friday morning that lasted forty minutes.

The New Yorker

I've just had a briefing from local officials about the policy.

The Economist

"We had a briefing telling us to prepare ourselves as best as possible for what lies ahead.

The New York Times

I've had a briefing on this and I'm told that 96% of people are either better off or not affected.

The Guardian

Malcolm Turnbull and I have had a briefing from intelligence agencies and of course if they continue to advise there is a problem then you take their advice.

The Guardian

The passengers have had a briefing from the captain, who said he was "very relieved" that the rescue had gone smoothly.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Wilde had a brief message for DeLay.

The New Yorker

We had a brief look at it.

Independent

He had a brief pillow fight.

The New York Times

I had a brief meeting with him.

The New York Times - Sports

Even the goalies had a brief confrontation.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, avoid overusing the passive voice when describing who conducted the briefing. Be direct about who informed whom for professional communications.

Common error

Avoid assuming the audience knows the subject matter of the briefing. Briefly explain the topic or purpose to ensure everyone understands the context. This prevents confusion and makes the information more accessible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a briefing" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the act of receiving essential information or instructions. Ludwig AI, demonstrates that the phrase is used to describe a situation where someone has been informed about a particular topic or event, often in a professional or official context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had a briefing" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to indicate the receipt of essential information or instructions, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as in formal business contexts. When using this phrase, consider clarity and audience knowledge. The phrase’s versatility allows for usage in numerous situations, but being precise about who, what, and why will improve the reader's comprehension and therefore improve the message's efficacy. Semantically related alternatives such as "received a briefing" or "attended a briefing" offer nuanced ways to convey the same idea with varying degrees of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received a briefing

Focuses on the act of receiving information, emphasizing the recipient's perspective.

attended a briefing

Highlights the action of being present at an informative session.

participated in a briefing

Emphasizes active involvement rather than passive reception.

was briefed

Uses the passive voice to emphasize that someone gave the briefing.

underwent a briefing

Implies a more formal or structured informational session.

was given a briefing

Highlights that someone provided the information.

sat through a briefing

Can imply a lengthy or tedious briefing.

had an information session

More generic term for receiving information.

was informed

A simpler way of saying someone received information.

got the details

Informal way of saying someone received the necessary information.

FAQs

What does it mean to "have a briefing"?

To "have a briefing" means to receive information or instructions, typically in a professional or formal setting. It implies a concise presentation of essential details.

What can I say instead of "had a briefing"?

You can use alternatives like "received a briefing", "attended a briefing", or "was briefed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I had a briefing about" or "I had a briefing on"?

Both are correct, but "I had a briefing on" is more common and natural. "About" can sometimes sound less formal, but it's not grammatically incorrect.

How do you use "had a briefing" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The team "had a briefing" this morning to discuss the project's progress."