kind of brief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of brief" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat short or not very detailed. Example: "The report was kind of brief, lacking the necessary details we needed for the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Or is this just something that had a kind of brief vogue, mid-19th century?

The New York Times

No other show allows for this kind of brief and intense — but controlled — intrusion.

The New Yorker

It was an outpouring that gave the Haggler the kind of brief head rush that must be commonplace for megalomaniacs.

The New York Times

It was a prolonged sulk that went on and on to become a kind of brief childhood madness.

The Guardian

This kind of brief presentation both provides students opportunities to master common grammar problems and a resource that they can use for their future writing.

Yale University

Upwardly mobile success, tweaking the nose of those who have forged ahead, suddenly looks like a very José kind of brief.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It's that kind of briefing that I received early.

The New York Times

I only heard This evening That there's some Kind of briefing Next week.

The New Yorker

A kind of briefing war has now started between the Elysée and Ms Trierweiler, who remains in the La Pitié-Salpetrière Pitié-Salpetrièreng from depression and low blood pressure.

Independent

She added: "One of the most important things that Ed Miliband has done is to outlaw this kind of briefing in his shadow cabinet.

The Guardian

"Coming from a background where your strength is doing detailed briefing on the government policy, it was never something that was in my nature and I think if you ask the majority of people in the lobby – political editors that have been around for ages – they'd never had that kind of briefing from me, aggressive briefing or … anything of a personal nature.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of brief" to describe something that lacks extensive detail but still conveys the essential information. It's suitable when you want to acknowledge that something isn't exhaustive without being overly critical.

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, excessive use of "kind of brief" in formal reports or academic papers can sound imprecise. Opt for more specific terms like "concise", "abridged", or "summary" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of brief" functions primarily as a qualifier, modifying a noun to indicate that something is somewhat short or not very detailed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid usage. It softens the description, suggesting it is not extremely short but noticeably concise. Examples from Ludwig show it used in contexts like describing presentations or reports.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

24%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "kind of brief" is a common and acceptable way to describe something that is somewhat short or lacks extensive detail. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Ludwig's examples show it frequently used in news and media, academia and science to qualify a noun. When writing, "kind of brief" can be useful to soften a critique, or to set up someone's expectations. While acceptable in many contexts, remember that in formal writing, more specific terms might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat short

Emphasizes a slightly reduced length or duration.

relatively concise

Highlights a focus on efficiency and lack of unnecessary detail.

fairly succinct

Stresses the expression of much in few words.

moderately abbreviated

Indicates a reduction in length from an original form.

rather terse

Suggests a brevity that might verge on being curt.

slightly shortened

Focuses on the action of making something shorter.

a bit fleeting

Implies something lasting only a short time.

somewhat limited

Highlights restrictions on duration or extent.

quite compressed

Focuses on reducing the space or time something occupies.

pretty pithy

Suggests that something is concise and full of meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of brief" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of brief" to describe something that is somewhat short or not very detailed. For example: "The presentation was "kind of brief", but it covered all the key points."

What's a more formal alternative to "kind of brief"?

If you're aiming for a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "relatively concise", "fairly succinct", or "moderately abbreviated".

Is it okay to use "kind of" in formal writing?

While "kind of" is generally acceptable, it's often better to choose more precise language in formal writing. Overuse can make your writing sound less authoritative. Consider if a stronger adjective or adverb would be more effective.

What does it mean when something is described as "kind of brief"?

When something is described as "kind of brief", it means it's shorter or less detailed than expected or required. It implies that it covers the essentials without going into extensive detail.