shortly as though

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shortly as though" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express a comparison or a manner of doing something in a brief way, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "He spoke shortly as though he had no time to waste."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When people try to start conversations, answer quickly and shortly, as though you really need to leave.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

That should all change very shortly though, as the two companies have been busy sending out invitations to a big September 18 press event in London this morning.

TechCrunch

Fever relapsed shortly thereafter, as well as the facial tumefaction.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Shortly afterwards, though, calamitous home defending proved costly.

The Guardian - Sport

Shortly thereafter, though, the bandits reappear, and Cody dies in the ensuing gun battle.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But they're still just a team of three for now, though they plan to hire shortly as they look into taking on some funding (the operation is currently self-funded).

TechCrunch

Shortly after this, though, I became very tired.

Vice

If there are family or friends' birthdays coming up shortly, though, these bargains may be ideal.

WikiHow

Any hope they had of getting something from the game was ended shortly afterwards though as more slick handling led to Witt and Gower combining to send Dorn over for his fourth try of the match.

BBC

Microsoft's market share peaked at about 60 percent in 2007, the year the iPhone was released, and BlackBerry took over the top spot shortly after (though BlackBerry later plummeted as well).

The New York Times

It's as though shortly death itself can be postponed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "shortly as though" with alternatives like "briefly as if" or "quickly as though" to ensure your writing is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "shortly as though" in formal writing; it can sound awkward. Opt for simpler, more direct phrasing like "briefly as if" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shortly as though" functions as a conjunction phrase, attempting to connect the timing of an event with a sense of comparison or resemblance. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shortly as though" is not considered grammatically sound in standard English, according to Ludwig AI. Its intended use is to suggest a quick action that seems to resemble something else. While it appears in various sources, including news outlets and wikis, clearer alternatives such as "briefly as if" or "quickly as though" are generally preferred for better clarity and grammatical correctness. It is advisable to use these alternatives, especially in formal writing, to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

briefly as if

Emphasizes the conciseness of the action and introduces a hypothetical comparison, focusing on a quick action and seeming.

quickly as though

Highlights speed and a sense of pretense, emphasizing swiftness and imitation.

soon as if

Indicates the action happens close in time and presents a hypothetical situation, linking immediacy with seeming.

immediately as if

Focuses on the instantaneous nature and introduces a comparison, emphasizing the lack of delay and a similar appearance.

shortly after as if

Implies a short time has passed before the action, and something else is happening that is similar to the action.

in a short time as if

Focuses on a brief timeframe and a hypothetical scenario, using a more descriptive way to indicate brevity and semblance.

quickly as if

Highlights the rapidness of the action and the appearance of the action, connecting speed and pretense.

in a moment as if

Indicates action is about to happen and compares how the action can appear, linking temporality with pretense.

in a bit as if

Suggests that the action happens soon and includes an imaginative comparison, connecting immediacy and semblance.

in short order as if

Implies efficiency and a certain likeness, connecting the quick sequence of events and the appearance of doing it.

FAQs

How can I use "shortly as though" in a sentence?

While grammatically questionable, you might use "shortly as though" to imply a quick action that seems to be something else. However, it's better to use clearer alternatives like "briefly as if" or "quickly as though".

What can I say instead of "shortly as though"?

Alternatives include "briefly as if", "quickly as though", or "soon as if" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "shortly as though" grammatically correct?

The phrase "shortly as though" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's advisable to use more established phrases like "briefly as if".

What's the difference between "shortly as though" and "briefly as if"?

"Shortly as though" is an awkward and less common phrasing. "Briefly as if" provides a clearer and more grammatically sound way to express a quick action that appears to be something else.