it was briefing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was briefing" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misuse of the word "briefing," which is typically a noun, while "was" suggests a verb form. An example could be: "The meeting was a briefing on the new project updates."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On Friday, a spokesman for RSA said it was briefing its customers individually but added that its executives were declining to speak publicly about the breach.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was brief.

The Economist

It was brief, too.

The Economist

It was brief solace.

The New York Times - Sports

It was brief and irresistible.

The New York Times - Food

It was brief and cordial".

The New York Times

It was brief and joyful: "Hello, world!".

The Guardian

It was brief, alas, but it included a rainbow.

The New York Times

If there was any let up, it was brief.

Independent

"It was brief and confusing," the reporter said.

The New York Times

But it was brief, late and hugely insufficient.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "briefing" as a verb. Instead, use it as a noun (e.g., "it was a briefing") or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Common error

Don't treat "briefing" as a continuous verb form. It's typically a noun, so structure your sentences accordingly. If you want to use a verb, consider "briefed" (e.g., "they were briefed").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was briefing" is grammatically incorrect. Briefing is generally used as a noun, not a continuous verb form. Ludwig AI highlights this error, suggesting alternatives that use briefing correctly as a noun or use the correct verb form briefed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was briefing" is grammatically incorrect, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Briefing functions primarily as a noun, not a continuous verb. Although it appears in some news and media contexts, its usage is infrequent and non-standard. To express similar ideas correctly, consider alternatives like "it was a briefing" or "they were briefed". When writing, ensure that briefing is used appropriately to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was a briefing

Changes the grammatical structure to use "briefing" as a noun.

it involved a briefing

Rephrases to indicate that a briefing was part of a larger event or situation.

a briefing took place

Shifts the focus to the event of the briefing itself.

they were holding a briefing

Specifies that someone was actively conducting a briefing.

information was provided

Focuses on the act of conveying information, removing the specific format of a briefing.

it was an informative session

Uses a more general term for a session conveying information.

details were communicated

Highlights the communication of details, without specifying how.

the situation was explained

Focuses on explaining a situation, not necessarily through a formal briefing.

a presentation was given

Replaces "briefing" with a more general term for presenting information.

updates were shared

Emphasizes the sharing of updates, a common purpose of briefings.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "briefing" in a sentence?

Use "briefing" as a noun. For example, "It was a "briefing" on the new regulations" is correct, whereas "It was briefing the team" is not. Instead use "It was "briefed" to the team".

Can I use "briefing" as a verb?

No, "briefing" is typically used as a noun. The verb form is "brief". For instance, say "They were "briefed" on the situation" instead of "They were briefing on the situation".

What are some alternatives to "it was briefing"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you could say "it was a "briefing"", "it involved a "briefing"", or "they were "briefed"".

Is "it was briefing" grammatically correct?

No, "it was briefing" is not grammatically correct in standard English. A correct alternative is "It was a "briefing"".