reply briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reply briefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want someone to respond in a concise manner without providing too much detail. Example: "Please reply briefly to the questions in the survey to help us gather data quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On the other hand, the mother was instructed to sit still on the floor midway between Keepon and the toys and to not speak or influence the child, although she was allowed to reply briefly or nod her head in response to questions or comments.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Dashi said something to Hasanaj, who replied briefly.

The New York Times - Magazine

If he asks you anything, reply very briefly.

WikiHow

She replied only briefly and with moderation, thanking him and telling him that she was "deeply affected" by his words, but taking pains to mention that she was too busy for much letter writing.

The New Yorker

When I challenged James about his statement, he replied (very briefly): "Can provide heating bills for comparable house in US and Devon, ratio 10 to 1. (10 time as costly in Devon)".

The Guardian

"Doing Eurovision with the BBC is a fascinating process," she replies, pausing briefly.

Vice

The 367 subjects who replied were briefly screened by telephone; of these, 120 were randomized and 112 of 120 (93%) completed the study.

American Journal of Medicine

"Senator, I think Russia is a foreign nation that we have to deal with warily," Wray replied after hesitating briefly.

Vice

Gore, who was supposed to press the Khobar case the hardest, had mentioned it only briefly, in reply to a question asked by the Crown Prince about the status of Sayegh, who had appealed for political asylum and, a year later, had still not been deported.

The New Yorker

Ask them where they studied and some pause briefly before replying, "Here".

The New York Times

When asked if he had been told Sunday's plans, Carney paused briefly and replied: "We're both ready.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "reply briefly", ensure the context provides sufficient information for them to understand the core of what's needed in the response. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid being so brief that your "reply briefly" is perceived as rude or unhelpful. Ensure you provide enough information to address the question or situation adequately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reply briefly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb (typically a verb of communication like "reply", "answer", or "respond"). It instructs the manner in which the action should be performed: concisely. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reply briefly" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier, instructing someone to provide a short and concise answer. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its primary purpose is to promote succinct communication, saving time and focusing on essential information. While most examples come from news, media and scientific sources, the phrase maintains a neutral to professional tone and can be effectively employed when brevity is valued. When using "reply briefly", it's important to ensure the context provides sufficient information, avoiding overly terse responses that may be perceived as rude or unhelpful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

respond concisely

Emphasizes the brevity and lack of unnecessary detail in the response.

answer succinctly

Highlights the response's directness and avoidance of verbosity.

give a short answer

Focuses on the limited length of the response.

keep your response brief

Instructs someone to maintain brevity in their reply.

answer tersely

Implies a response that is not only brief but also possibly curt or unfriendly.

offer a quick reply

Highlights the speed and conciseness of the answer.

state briefly

Focuses on providing a summarized version of the information.

provide a concise response

Indicates that the reply should be brief and to the point.

answer pithily

Suggests a response that is brief and full of meaning or substance.

comment briefly

Indicates a short remark or statement.

FAQs

How can I ask for a short response?

You can use phrases like "reply briefly", "respond concisely", or "answer succinctly" to request a concise answer.

What does it mean to "reply briefly"?

To "reply briefly" means to give a short, concise answer without unnecessary details or elaboration.

Is it rude to ask someone to "reply briefly"?

It's generally not rude, especially in professional or formal settings where brevity is valued. However, consider the context and relationship; in some situations, it might sound more polite to say "please keep your response brief".

What's the difference between "reply briefly" and "explain briefly"?

"Reply briefly" is used when you want a short answer to a question, whereas "explain briefly" is used when you want a short explanation of something.