preliminary briefing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preliminary briefing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an initial meeting or presentation that provides essential information or context before a more detailed discussion or event. Example: "Before we dive into the main agenda, let's have a preliminary briefing to outline the key points we need to cover."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We have had a preliminary briefing from the Federal City Council and we have asked them to brief Secretary Summers and the Secret Service.

The New York Times

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif ., who saiD-Calif .ived a "preliminary briefing," had twhoconcernsaidout the possible loss of the satellite.

The Washington Post

A Larchmont mother recently took advantage of the arrival of a litter of puppies next door to give her seven-year-old son a conscientious preliminary briefing on some of the facts of life.

The New Yorker

This essay is drawn from the introduction to a new translation, by Peter Carson, of Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich & Confession," which… A Larchmont mother recently took advantage of the arrival of a litter of puppies next door to give her seven-year-old son a conscientious preliminary briefing….

The New Yorker

By Mary Beard and Brendan Gill The New Yorker, August 16, 1947 P. 24 A Larchmont mother recently took advantage of the arrival of a litter of puppies next door to give her seven-year-old son a conscientious preliminary briefing on some of the facts of life.

The New Yorker

Not until General Sanchez received a preliminary briefing on General Taguba's findings on March 12, which identified the intelligence officers and contractors as having possibly been primarily to blame, did he order a similar review of any wrongdoing by military intelligence officers at the prison.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Preliminary brief obituary of Duke Ellington - jazz musician and band leader and great American composer Writer says more will appear next week.

The New Yorker

Preliminary brief obituary of Duke Ellington - jazz musician and… I threw him as far as Thor Aware to the dry throat of the wide hell in the world,.

The New Yorker

They were involved in: 1) preliminary brief educational program concerning etiology, symptoms and care of BPD; 2) regular supervisions, in order to promote a coherent treatment planning; 3) biweekly case supervision sessions (lasting 90 minutes), and monthly case discussions (lasting 60 minutes) to share professional and emotional loads.

BMC Psychiatry

This preliminary trial brief alleges that the Nazi secret police, security and intelligence system, and Ernst Kaltenbrunner abetted the conspiracy to seize and maintain totalitarian control over the German people and to dominate and control the peoples of occupied countries.

Cornell University

Undoubtedly, the analysis here concerning the positive and negative reasons is just a preliminary and brief discussion.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "preliminary briefing" when you need to convey that the information being presented is not the final version, but an overview provided in advance of a more detailed discussion or event.

Common error

Avoid using "preliminary briefing" when the information provided is comprehensive or final. Instead, opt for terms like "detailed briefing" or "final report" to accurately reflect the nature of the information being shared.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary briefing" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. It refers to an initial session intended to inform about something before more detailed information is available. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preliminary briefing" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an initial session that conveys essential information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in written English. While not extremely frequent, its usage spans across various contexts like news, academia, and science. Related phrases include "initial briefing" and "introductory briefing". When writing, use it to indicate that you are providing an overview before more detailed information is given. Be mindful not to use it when the information is final; opt for alternatives like "final report" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial briefing

Replaces 'preliminary' with 'initial', emphasizing the start or beginning phase.

introductory briefing

Uses 'introductory' instead of 'preliminary', highlighting the purpose of introducing the topic.

advance briefing

Substitutes 'preliminary' with 'advance', suggesting information provided ahead of time.

early briefing

Uses 'early' instead of 'preliminary', which puts the emphasis on the time.

preliminary report

Shifts from a spoken briefing to a written report, maintaining the 'preliminary' aspect.

pre-brief

A shortened, more informal version of "preliminary briefing".

background briefing

Replaces 'preliminary' focusing on providing background information.

initial rundown

Uses 'rundown' as a synonym for 'briefing', indicating a summary or overview.

first look

Informal way to say "preliminary briefing", focuses on the concept of seeing something for the first time.

sneak peek

More informal way to say "preliminary briefing", suggesting exclusivity.

FAQs

How is a "preliminary briefing" different from a final briefing?

A "preliminary briefing" provides an initial overview, while a final briefing presents complete and conclusive information. The preliminary version is often used to set the stage before diving into specifics.

When is it appropriate to use the term "preliminary briefing"?

Use "preliminary briefing" when you are providing an early overview or initial information before a more detailed report or discussion is available. It's appropriate when the details are not yet finalized.

What can I say instead of "preliminary briefing"?

Alternatives include "initial briefing", "introductory briefing", or "advance briefing" depending on the specific context you want to emphasize.

Is "preliminary briefing" formal or informal language?

The phrase "preliminary briefing" is suitable for professional and neutral contexts. While not overly formal, it is appropriate for business, news reporting and academic environments. Using "sneak peek" would be an example of more informal language.