short reference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "short reference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate a brief mention or citation of a source or topic. Example: "In the report, I included a short reference to the study conducted by Smith et al. (2020)."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

He writes that his short reference to Elizabeth Berkley's early career debacle was unfair.

The New York Times

Ariès's short reference formed the basis for Miller's sixth novel, Pure, which this week won the Costa book award.

The Guardian - Books

She hangs up her phone, sits down and waits beside an old golden retriever that is, indeed, asleep in the sun; her simple directions, a short reference to a neighbourhood shop, apparently more than sufficient.

The Guardian

That short reference eventually led Mr. Paley to 500 pages of documents describing an episode more than 80 years ago in which the Harvard administration methodically harassed a number of young men for being gay, on suspicion of being gay or simply for associating with gays.

The New York Times

Intrigued by a short reference to Steinbeck's fleeting interest in the Alamo that he read about in Jackson J. Benson's definitive biography, "The True Adventures of John Steinbeck -- Writer," Mr. Groneman proposed a conference paper on "John Steinbeck and the Alamo".

The New York Times

In the following, all glossaries will be referenced by short reference given in square brackets.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"You always need short references, so if you're asked to animate jumping or rolling, you can either watch video references on YouTube, but if you don't find a suitable one, you have to shoot it yourself.

The Guardian - Tech

In short, references are an important part of any job-search strategy and need to be cultivated and considered every bit as much as your job search and your cover letter.

Science Magazine

This short references his recent novels including his latest, 'Imperial Bedrooms.'.

Huffington Post

Each point is coloured according to reference sequence length, and it can be seen there is a general trend for greater than unity assignments to be to short references and less than unity assignments to longer references.

Plosone

Moreover, the prominence will be in the spectrum of different methodologies that may be used to obtain forecasts for the number of physicians and nurses, with short references to the approaches or technical apparatus, commonly used to apply a given methodology a.

Human Resources for Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "short reference", ensure the context is clear enough for the audience to understand the topic being referenced without requiring extensive background information. This maintains brevity without sacrificing comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "short reference" when the subject is unfamiliar to the intended audience. Provide slightly more context or choose a different expression to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "short reference" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "short" modifies the noun "reference". It describes a brief or concise mention of something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "short reference" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a brief mention or citation, as affirmed by Ludwig. While considered correct and usable, it appears more frequently in scientific and news-related contexts. When employing "short reference", it's crucial to ensure the context remains clear for the audience. Alternatives such as "brief mention" or "concise citation" may be suitable substitutes depending on the specific intent. Always consider your audience's familiarity with the topic to avoid ambiguity. While considered uncommon in frequency, its correct usage and presence in authoritative sources underscore its validity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brief mention

Replaces "reference" with a synonym, emphasizing the brevity of the mention.

concise citation

Substitutes both words to highlight brevity and the act of citing.

quick note

Uses more informal language to suggest a brief observation.

brief allusion

Emphasizes an indirect or passing mention.

passing remark

Highlights the casual nature of the reference.

terse indication

Stresses brevity and directness in pointing something out.

limited citation

Highlights the limited scope of the reference.

fleeting comment

Emphasizes the brief and transient nature of the reference.

compact mention

Stresses the compressed or concise nature of the reference.

succinct pointer

Highlights a brief but effective directive or indicator.

FAQs

How can I use "short reference" in a sentence?

You can use "short reference" to indicate a brief mention of something. For instance: "The paper includes a "short reference" to the author's previous work".

What's a good alternative to "short reference"?

Alternatives include "brief mention", "concise citation", or "passing remark", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "short reference" and "brief citation"?

While both indicate a brief mention, "short reference" is more general, while "brief citation" specifically implies citing a source.

When is it appropriate to use a "short reference"?

Use a "short reference" when the topic is already familiar to your audience or when a more detailed explanation is unnecessary for the current discussion.