has been brief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been brief" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been short in duration or concise in content. Example: "The meeting has been brief, allowing us to cover all the necessary points quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Robertson's time in the sun has been brief and not inglorious.

The Guardian - Sport

While the German's time at the club has been brief, they are likely to make profit on the player who they signed for only £1.5m last year.

Independent

His time on the mound with the Yankees has been brief: he has made 22 starts, pitched 126 1/3 innings and compiled a 7-6 record.

The New York Times - Sports

To write the words "A Brief History Of Oculus" is a bit funny — because really, the company's very existence has been brief.

TechCrunch

Even though all of the mentioned filtering approaches introduced tone-mapping as one of their applications, the analysis of tone-mapping in these studies has been brief, since the main contributions of these works lie elsewhere.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The life of Aylan Kurdi has been brief: only three years, but the drama of his people has lasted decades, centuries.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"It has been briefed to Congress".

The New York Times

Councilman Lander has been briefed on it.

The New Yorker

President Obama, they said, has been briefed about the crisis.

The New York Times

It says President Obama has been briefed on the situation.

The Guardian

That's surely all that Ms. Vadsaria has been briefed on too.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been brief" when you want to emphasize that something was short in duration, rather than focusing on other qualities like intensity or impact. Ensure this meaning aligns with the context of your sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "has been brief" when describing experiences or events where the impact outweighed the short duration. Instead, consider phrases that capture the intensity or importance, such as "although brief, it was impactful" or "though short-lived, it left a lasting impression."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been brief" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. It indicates that the duration of something (an event, a period of time, an experience) was short. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been brief" is a grammatically sound and acceptably common expression used to describe something of short duration. As Ludwig AI indicates, the expression is correct and usable. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, media, and scientific writing, with a neutral register. Related phrases such as "was short" or "did not last long" can provide stylistic alternatives. When employing "has been brief", ensure the brevity is the intended focus, and consider the potential for confusion with the event's significance. Common mistakes involve using it inappropriately when the impact of an event outweighed its duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was short

Replaces "has been" with "was", focusing on a past state of being short.

was concise

Emphasizes the conciseness rather than the duration.

was fleeting

Highlights the transient nature of something.

did not last long

Focuses on the lack of duration.

passed quickly

Emphasizes the speed of passing.

has not been lengthy

Uses a more formal tone by replacing 'brief' with 'lengthy' in the negative form.

has been momentary

Focuses on the immediate nature of the event.

has been abbreviated

Highlights the reduced length of something, often a process or speech.

has been truncated

Implies something was cut short.

has been ephemeral

Uses a more sophisticated term to indicate a very short lifespan or duration.

FAQs

How can I use "has been brief" in a sentence?

You can use "has been brief" to describe the duration of an event or period, for example: "His time in the role "has been brief", but impactful."

What are some alternatives to "has been brief"?

Alternatives include "was short", "was fleeting", or "did not last long", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "has been brief" in formal writing?

Yes, "has been brief" is suitable for formal writing, especially when describing a short duration in a clear and concise manner. However, consider alternatives like "has not been lengthy" for a more sophisticated tone.

What is the difference between "has been brief" and "was brief"?

"Has been brief" implies that the period is still relevant or connected to the present, while "was brief" refers to a period that is completely in the past and has no current connection. For example, "The CEO's tenure "has been brief", but impactful" versus "The summer vacation "was brief" and is now over."