often short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "often short" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that frequently has a brief duration or length. Example: "The meetings are often short, lasting no more than 30 minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

The stories are often short crime blotter articles.

The Guardian - Opinion

His personal life was often short on laughter.

Independent

Ms. Payo has found that the girls' families, often short on resources, welcome the program's support.

The New York Times

Although navigation systems are long on knowledge, they are often short on wisdom.

The New York Times - Travel

Her gestural lines are often short and calligraphic, but individually extremely alive, energy-conductive.

The New York Times

In 1849 Missouri was a frontier, where life was ugly, brutish and often short.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

"Political considerations are often short-term.

The New York Times

Like Smith, Draycott purges her work of the knowingness that often short-circuits poetry.

The Guardian - Books

Recognise that there are few quick fixes, and these results are often short-lived.

The Guardian

The restaurant was often short-staffed, which made for a heavy workload.

The Guardian - Money

No one understood better than he that literary fame is often short-lived.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "often short", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is frequently of short duration. For example, "Meetings are often short" clarifies that it's the meetings that are brief.

Common error

Avoid using "often short" when you need to emphasize the intensity or impact, not just the duration. For instance, instead of "the impact was often short", consider "the impact was fleeting" to better convey the temporary nature of the impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "often short" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun to indicate that it frequently has a brief duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable and correct. Examples include descriptions of meetings, presentations, or intervals.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "often short" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe something that frequently has a brief duration. As supported by Ludwig AI, its function is to indicate the recurring nature of brevity, and it's versatile enough for use in neutral, professional, and even scientific contexts. While not extremely common, it effectively communicates the idea of frequent shortness. When using this phrase, ensure the context makes clear what is being described as "often short" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequently brief

Emphasizes the recurring nature of something being brief.

commonly concise

Highlights that conciseness is a typical characteristic.

usually brief

Focuses on the typical duration being brief.

typically concise

Similar to commonly concise, but with a slightly different tone.

generally brief

Indicates that briefness is a general attribute.

mostly brief

Suggests that the majority of instances are brief.

predominantly concise

Highlights that conciseness is the main characteristic.

oftentimes brief

A more emphatic way to say often brief.

regularly concise

Focuses on the regularity of being concise.

repeatedly short

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of being short.

FAQs

How can I use "often short" in a sentence?

You can use "often short" to describe something that frequently has a brief duration or length. For example: "The presentations were "often short" and to the point."

What's a good alternative to "often short"?

Alternatives include "frequently brief", "commonly concise", or "usually brief", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "often short"?

Yes, "often short" is grammatically correct. The adverb "often" modifies the adjective "short" to indicate frequency.

What does "often short" imply about something?

"Often short" implies that something does not last very long or is of brief duration on a recurring basis. It emphasizes the frequency of the brevity.