is being briefed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is being briefed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone who is currently receiving information or instructions about a particular subject or situation. Example: "The team is being briefed on the new project updates during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Neither does President Garrison, who is being briefed on it at the Pentagon.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And Mike Pence is being briefed, who is, by the way, one of my very good decisions.

The Washington Post

President Obama is being briefed today on the full, classified report, and Mr. Trump will get an identical briefing on Friday.

The New York Times

"But he is very engaged, he's making sure the legal team is being briefed, he knows the political piece, and he's covering all the bases".

The New York Times

An avid outdoorswoman who has never held public office, Ms. Jewell is already at work in a transition office at the Interior Department, where she is being briefed on her new responsibilities.

The New York Times

"We'd be foolish to think this was being done independently, that Pakistan wasn't playing any role in this," said the former official, who is being briefed by current officials and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

And they're being briefed.

The Washington Post

And I'm being briefed also.

The Washington Post

He was being briefed by Met officers that no new investigation was warranted.

The Guardian

Suddenly, Curry was being briefed by a team employee to prepare him for the coming storm.

The New York Times - Sports

Salon's staff was being briefed on the changes on Monday afternoon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is being briefed" to clearly indicate that someone is in the process of receiving important information, often in preparation for a decision or action. This passive construction emphasizes the process rather than the source of the briefing.

Common error

Avoid replacing the passive "is being briefed" with an active construction if the source of the briefing is unimportant or unknown. For example, instead of "Someone is briefing the president", use "The president is being briefed" to focus on the president's action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is being briefed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is receiving information or instructions. Ludwig's examples show its application across diverse scenarios, from political updates to internal organizational changes, reinforcing its role in conveying the receipt of information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is being briefed" is a common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to indicate that someone is receiving information or instructions. According to Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts but also has applications in formal and business settings. The phrase's neutral to professional register makes it suitable for various communication needs. Understanding the best practices and common errors associated with its use, helps ensure clear and effective writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is receiving a briefing

Emphasizes the action of receiving the information.

is being informed

Focuses on the state of knowing or being made aware.

is getting briefed

A more informal way to express the same idea.

is being updated

Implies receiving the latest information.

is being instructed

Suggests receiving specific directions or commands.

is being coached

Indicates receiving guidance or training.

is being filled in

Informal way to describe receiving missing information.

is being advised

Highlights the act of receiving counsel or recommendations.

is being apprised

A more formal way of saying 'is being informed'.

is being schooled

Indicates receiving thorough instruction, often in a specific area.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "is being briefed" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use alternatives like "is receiving a briefing" or "is being apprised".

What's a more casual way to say "is being briefed"?

In informal contexts, you can say "is getting briefed" or "is being filled in".

Is it always necessary to specify who is doing the briefing when using "is being briefed"?

No, the phrase "is being briefed" is often used when the source of information is either irrelevant or already understood in the context. The focus is on the recipient of the information.

When should I use "is being informed" instead of "is being briefed"?

Use "is being informed" when you want to emphasize the act of receiving knowledge or updates, whereas "is being briefed" suggests a more structured and preparatory session.