quick and careful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quick and careful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or process that is performed efficiently while also being attentive to detail or safety. Example: "The technician was quick and careful in repairing the equipment, ensuring everything was functioning properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Thornton stands over a saucepan with his head bowed intently, his hands quick and careful, a sapper with a live one.

The New Yorker

And his talent was based on an equally extraordinary capacity for quick and careful reading: three novels in an evening plus six new book manuscripts over a weekend were his normal regime.

The New Yorker

Cliffs closed the run in near its exit, the bottleneck just 15 feet wide and steep enough to provoke some caution: "Ski quick and careful through this," Mr. Brown shouted as I pushed off.

The New York Times - Travel

As with ATRIAS, quick and careful placement of the feet makes Cassie resistant to slips, stumbles, and the occasional malicious grad student.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

More than once, Esam's quick thinking and careful words saved lives - both American and Iraqi.

Huffington Post

"Be quick and be very careful," Batman barks.

Vice

"All the aspects of this case, such as its moral and worldly elements, should be considered in a careful, quick and fair way".

The New York Times

PAGE A10 APPEAL FOR REPORTER IN IRAN The chief of Iran's judiciary said that he had ordered a "careful, quick and fair" consideration of an appeal against the conviction and prison sentence imposed on an Iranian-American journalist.

The New York Times

The judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, issued a decree to the head of the Tehran court calling on the appeal to be "considered at the appeals stage in a careful, quick and fair way," the ISNA news service reported.

The New York Times

TEHRAN — The chief of Iran's judiciary said Monday that he had ordered a "careful, quick and fair" consideration of an appeal of the conviction of and eight-year prison sentence imposed on an Iranian-American journalist, one day after the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, urged the chief prosecutor to re-examine the case.

The New York Times

On Sept. 11, for instance, large numbers of people organized themselves into a quick, careful and efficient evacuation of the World Trade Center towers.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "quick and careful" in technical documentation or instructions, provide specific parameters or checklists to help ensure that both aspects are adequately addressed.

Common error

Avoid situations where the emphasis on "quick" undermines the "careful" aspect. If time constraints are a factor, clearly define the acceptable margin of error to prevent mistakes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quick and careful" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to modify nouns by attributing the qualities of both speed and meticulousness. The examples provided by Ludwig show it describing actions ranging from cooking to reading.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quick and careful" is used to describe actions or processes that balance efficiency with attention to detail. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English, primarily functioning as an adjective phrase. Although somewhat infrequent, as shown in the Ludwig examples, its usage spans across various contexts like news, instructions and science. The phrase conveys a balance between expediency and diligence. It is important to choose this phrase when one must emphasize efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. When writing with the phrase "quick and careful", remember to be specific with your parameters, defining the margin of error to prevent mistakes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

swift and meticulous

Replaces "quick" with "swift" for similar speed and "careful" with "meticulous" to highlight attention to detail.

fast and thorough

Uses "fast" as a synonym for "quick" and "thorough" as a stronger version of "careful", emphasizing completeness.

rapid and precise

Replaces "quick" with "rapid" to intensify the speed aspect and "careful" with "precise" to denote accuracy.

expeditious and cautious

Uses "expeditious" to emphasize efficiency and "cautious" to highlight the avoidance of risks.

efficient and attentive

Focuses on "efficient" to convey productivity and "attentive" to show mindfulness.

prompt and circumspect

Uses "prompt" to suggest immediacy and "circumspect" to imply prudence and thoughtfulness.

speedy yet vigilant

Combines "speedy" for quickness with "vigilant" to stress watchfulness and alertness.

nimble and prudent

Highlights agility with "nimble" and sensible caution with "prudent".

fleet and conscientious

Emphasizes rapidness with "fleet" and strong moral sense and duty with "conscientious".

hasty but deliberate

Balances "hasty" to mean quick with "deliberate" to imply considered and intentional action.

FAQs

How can I use "quick and careful" in a sentence?

You can use "quick and careful" to describe a process, action, or individual known for efficiency and precision. For example, "The surgeon was "quick and careful" during the delicate operation, ensuring the patient's safety".

What's a good alternative to "quick and careful"?

Alternatives to "quick and careful" include "swift and meticulous", "fast and thorough", or "rapid and precise", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "quick and careful"?

While "quick" and "careful" might seem contradictory, they emphasize doing something efficiently while still paying close attention to detail. The phrase is not inherently redundant but its effectiveness depends on the context.

When is it more appropriate to prioritize speed over being careful, or vice versa?

The choice between prioritizing speed versus carefulness depends on the situation. In emergency situations, speed is critical. However, in tasks such as surgery or handling hazardous materials, being careful is crucial to prevent harm or errors.