only briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

"only briefly" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you need to indicate that something happened quickly or for a short period of time. Example: We talked about the project only briefly before moving on to the next topic.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But only briefly.

Independent

The two spoke only briefly.

The New York Times

I met him only briefly.

Independent

Sickles was jailed only briefly.

The New York Times

They chatted only briefly.

The Washington Post

Only briefly, however.

The Guardian - Sport

Or, only briefly?

The Guardian - Music

But perhaps only briefly.

The New York Times - Tech

He blanches only briefly.

The Guardian - Film

The ruse worked only briefly.

The New York Times

Certain occupants will be glimpsed only briefly.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only briefly" to emphasize the limited duration of an action or state, adding nuance to descriptions and avoiding ambiguity. For example, instead of saying 'They spoke', use 'They spoke only briefly' to highlight the short conversation.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "only briefly" in formal writing where more precise terms like 'momentarily' or 'fleetingly' might be more appropriate to maintain a professional tone. Consider your audience and the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only briefly" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the limited extent or duration of an action or state. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it modifies verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses, emphasizing the brevity of the event. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

15%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only briefly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that serves to emphasize the limited duration or extent of an action. As Ludwig confirms, its primary function is to add nuance and clarity by specifying that something occurred quickly or was not extensive. While its register is generally neutral, "only briefly" is more prevalent in news, media and academic contexts. When writing, consider alternative phrases such as "for a short time" or "just for a moment" to add variety, and avoid overuse in formal writing where more precise vocabulary might be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a short time

Focuses on the limited duration of the action.

just for a moment

Emphasizes the momentary nature of the action.

in passing

Highlights that the action was done casually and quickly.

fleetingly

Stresses the quick and transient nature of the action.

momentarily

Highlights the short duration, almost instantaneous.

for a little while

Indicates a slightly longer duration than "just for a moment" but still short.

superficially

Emphasizes a lack of depth or thoroughness rather than time.

cursorily

Focuses on the hasty and superficial nature of the action.

hastily

Implies the action was done quickly, possibly without care.

in a nutshell

Indicates a concise summary, focusing on brevity in explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "only briefly" in a sentence?

You can use "only briefly" to indicate that something happened for a very short time. For example, "He mentioned the issue "only briefly" during the meeting".

What's the difference between "only briefly" and "momentarily"?

"Only briefly" generally refers to a short duration, while "momentarily" can also imply that something will happen again soon. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the shortness of time or a temporary interruption.

Which is correct, "only briefly" or "briefly only"?

"Only briefly" is the standard and more common word order. "Briefly only" is less common and can sound awkward in many contexts. Sticking to ""only briefly"" is generally recommended.

What can I say instead of "only briefly" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use alternatives such as "fleetingly", "in passing", or "momentarily" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.