peruse briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "peruse briefly" is somewhat contradictory, as "peruse" typically means to read something carefully and in detail.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate a quick look at something, but it may confuse readers due to the inherent meaning of "peruse." Example: "Before the meeting, I will peruse briefly the report to get a general idea of the findings."

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The broadcaster, wallowing perhaps just a little in his newly acquired notoriety, briefly perused a waspish Sunday newspaper profile of him headlined "Old Jug Ears, daddy of the super-secret" and illustrated with an unflattering caricature which he self-deprecatingly described as "both rather unpleasant and also entirely accurate".

Independent

I briefly perused the marketing literature they sent out and noticed Putnam expects these funds to deliver these results over a period of three years or more.

Forbes

Simply lifting our heads up and making eye contact and perusing the file, even briefly, provides the acknowledgement boost we desperately desire.

HuffPost

Still, after briefly – as is my right as an internet-reading American – perusing summaries of the WHO report, replete with phrases like "consumed daily", "probably carcinogenic" and "there was some evidence", I have to say that I am mostly convinced.

The Guardian - Opinion

Let's peruse together.

The Guardian

I peruse the flyer.

The Guardian - Arts

Peruse student work.

Harvard University

Peruse their policies.

University of California, Berkeley

I peruse overpriced smoked fish.

The Guardian - Opinion

They still occasionally peruse the wedding dictionary.

The New York Times

Briefly explain.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, replace "peruse briefly" with alternatives like "scan quickly" or "glance over" to avoid the implied carefulness of "peruse".

Common error

Avoid using "peruse briefly" when you mean a quick scan. "Peruse" suggests a thorough reading, creating a contradiction with "briefly". Choose a verb that aligns with the intended speed and depth of reading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "peruse briefly" functions as a verb phrase where "peruse" is the main verb and "briefly" modifies it. It aims to describe the action of reading or examining something in a quick manner, although this usage is seen by Ludwig AI as somewhat contradictory.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "peruse briefly" is a phrase used to describe a quick examination or reading of something. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the combination can be seen as contradictory since "peruse" implies a thoroughness that "briefly" negates. Therefore, while understandable, it's often better to use more precise alternatives like "scan quickly" or "glance over". The phrase's register is generally neutral to informal, and its frequency is low, suggesting it's not a commonly used expression. When writing, consider the potential for misinterpretation and choose a phrase that better aligns with your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scan quickly

Replaces "peruse" with "scan" for a faster reading and "briefly" with "quickly" to avoid any ambiguity.

glance over

Uses "glance" to convey a quick look, offering a less formal and more casual tone.

skim through

Emphasizes a superficial reading experience, focusing on getting the main points.

look over quickly

Maintains the element of speed while suggesting a more general overview.

review quickly

Highlights a fast reassessment, more suitable when something has been seen before.

check quickly

Implies a rapid verification, emphasizing confirming basic information.

run through

Suggests a swift walkthrough, appropriate for processes or lists.

dip into

Implies reading small portions, in different moments.

browse quickly

Uses "browse" to suggest casual and undirected looking through information.

leaf through

Describes flipping pages to get a superficial sense of something, often documents or books.

FAQs

How can I use the word "peruse" in a sentence?

The word "peruse" means to read or examine something carefully. For example, "I like to peruse the newspaper over breakfast" or "She perused the document before signing it."

What can I say instead of "peruse briefly"?

If you want to express a quick look, you can use alternatives like "scan quickly", "glance over", or "skim through".

Is it correct to say "peruse briefly"?

While understandable, "peruse briefly" can be seen as contradictory because "peruse" implies a thorough reading. Depending on the context, it might be better to use a phrase that emphasizes speed, like "quickly scan".

What's the difference between "peruse" and "scan"?

"Peruse" suggests a careful and detailed examination, while "scan" implies a quick overview to find specific information. Using "scan" is more appropriate when you're not reading every word but looking for something in particular.