received a briefing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "received a briefing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of being given information or instructions, typically in a formal or professional context. Example: "After the meeting, the team received a briefing on the new project guidelines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation.

The New York Times

Rice also received a briefing from U.S. officials on the country's drug-production problem.

The Washington Post

Elrich said as a member of the county council, he received a briefing about the county's commitments to Amazon.

The Washington Post

Labor representatives received a briefing about the privatisation from officials from the Department of Finance on Wednesday.

The Guardian

To the best of his knowledge, no other Home Office official received a briefing on the topic either.

The Guardian

In the afternoon, the panel received a briefing from state police officers about Virginia laws on obtaining firearms.

The Washington Post

In a closed-door meeting this week, governors received a briefing from Gentry Collins, a Republican strategist, who wrote a scathing memo blasting Mr. Steele earlier this week.

The New York Times

England, who like Sri Lanka's players received a briefing by the ICC's anti-corruption chief, Alex Marshall, before the series, were more open on the topic.

The Guardian - Sport

They received a briefing from officers on the street before being led to the front door where the shooting rampage that killed 50 began.

The Guardian

A senior German official said that the head of the Federal Intelligence Service received a briefing and listened to the audio recording during a trip to Ankara.

The Washington Post

She said she had received a briefing from the Pakistani authorities on Wednesday to say that the interior minister was overseeing the case personally.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "received a briefing" when you want to emphasize the formal or structured nature of the information being provided. For a more concise phrasing, consider alternatives like "was briefed."

Common error

Avoid using "received a briefing" in informal contexts. Opt for simpler alternatives like "got an update" or "heard about" in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "received a briefing" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that someone was given specific information or instructions, typically in a formal setting. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples showing its usage in news reports, business communications, and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "received a briefing" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone has been formally informed or updated on a particular matter. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it's frequently used in news, business, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "was briefed" offer conciseness, "received a briefing" emphasizes the structured delivery of information. When employing this phrase, consider the level of formality required by the context, opting for simpler alternatives in casual settings. Overall, it's a versatile phrase suitable for a wide range of professional communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was briefed

A more concise and passive way of saying someone received information.

was given a briefing

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the act of giving the briefing.

attended a briefing

Focuses on the action of participating in a briefing session.

was informed

A broader term that means to be given information, without specifying the format.

was updated

Implies receiving the latest information or developments.

heard a presentation

Indicates that the briefing took the form of a presentation.

was apprised of

A more formal way of saying someone was informed.

gained insight into

Emphasizes the understanding acquired from the briefing.

was filled in on

An informal way to say someone was given the necessary information.

learned the details

Highlights the acquisition of specific information.

FAQs

How can I use "received a briefing" in a sentence?

You can use "received a briefing" to indicate that someone was formally informed about a particular subject. For example: "The president "received a briefing" on the current situation in the Middle East."

What can I say instead of "received a briefing"?

You can use alternatives like "was briefed", "was given a briefing", or "was updated" depending on the context. For instance, instead of "The team "received a briefing"", you could say "The team "was briefed"".

Which is correct, "received a briefing" or "got a briefing"?

"Received a briefing" is more formal and often preferred in professional or official contexts. "Got a briefing" is less formal but still acceptable in many situations.

What's the difference between "received a briefing" and "attended a briefing"?

"Received a briefing" focuses on the act of being informed, while "attended a briefing" emphasizes the action of being present at a briefing session. You "received a briefing" when you were the recipient of the information, and you "attended a briefing" when you were present at the session.