snapshot

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'snapshot' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word 'snapshot' when referring to a brief or immediate view or representation of a situation or object. For example: "This chart provides a snapshot of our company's financial health over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Guardian's average of polls aims to best represent a snapshot of the polls as they stand.

The Guardian

"These polls are a snapshot and not a prediction," he told STV's Scotland Tonight on Thursday.

The Guardian

It is absolutely right for Labor to want to move beyond what is described in snapshot as the Rudd-Gillard era.

The Guardian

Here's a broader snapshot from its findings: perhaps the most significant social feature is that 96% of men worked in full-time employment in the 50s, and just 46% of women, whereas today the male employment rate has fallen to 75% while the female rate has risen to 66%.

The Guardian

To mark a year on from the changes, the Healthcare Financial Management Association HFMAA) took a snapshot looking at the attitudes of their members, those working on the frontline.

The Guardian

What really matters is that the public get a credible snapshot of what policing this city is all about and can trust what they are seeing.

The Guardian

Game of Thrones is the most-pirated TV show in the world, according to a four-week snapshot of online piracy shown to the Guardian.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Based on cultural, economic and political influence, it was put together with the help of 10 industry experts and is intended as a snapshot of media power today.

The Guardian

I wanted to take a snapshot of the new French revolution: the revolt of the provinces against Paris.

The Guardian

The snapshot of global illegal downloading, carried out by anti-piracy and security firm Irdeto, found that Game of Thrones episodes were downloaded almost 1.6m times.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This trip does not come cheap, and the mountain is sometimes lost in cloud and ash, but the inquisitive are guaranteed an eerie snapshot of what used to be Montserrat's capital, Plymouth, before it was buried up to its rooftops.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "snapshot" to convey a sense of immediacy and a brief, representative view of a situation. For instance, "The quarterly report provides a snapshot of the company's financial performance."

Common error

Avoid using "snapshot" when you intend to convey a complete and in-depth understanding. "Snapshot" implies a partial or momentary view, not a thorough investigation.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "snapshot" is as a noun, denoting a photograph or a brief view of something. As Ludwig shows, it can also function as a verb, meaning to take a snapshot of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "snapshot" functions primarily as a noun to denote a brief or immediate view of something. Ludwig examples reveal its prevalent use across various contexts, most notably in News & Media. The term maintains a neutral register and serves the communicative purpose of providing a concise representation of a subject. According to Ludwig, "snapshot" is grammatically correct and widely usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

captured image

Highlights the act of recording or preserving a visual representation.

quick glimpse

Emphasizes the speed and brevity of the view.

passing glance

Highlights the casual nature of the observation.

brief overview

Focuses on summarization rather than a literal image.

moment in time

Highlights the specific point in the timeline being captured.

concise summary

Focuses on a short and informative overview.

fleeting impression

Implies a short-lived and possibly incomplete view.

cursory look

Suggests a superficial or quick examination.

thumbnail sketch

Emphasizes a small and simplified representation.

briefing

Implies a short session of information

FAQs

How can I use "snapshot" in a sentence?

You can use "snapshot" to describe a brief or immediate view of something, as in, "This data provides a snapshot of the current market conditions."

What's a good substitute for the word "snapshot"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "brief overview", "quick glimpse", or "moment in time".

Is it appropriate to use "snapshot" in formal writing?

Yes, "snapshot" is generally acceptable in formal writing, particularly when describing a quick or high-level view of a topic. However, ensure the context aligns with the intended brevity of the term.

What does it mean when a report is described as a "snapshot"?

It means the report offers a concise and timely overview of a particular situation at a specific point in time. The report is not meant to be an exhaustive analysis, but rather a "brief overview".