spot momentarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spot momentarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to noticing or seeing something briefly or for a short duration. Example: "I managed to spot momentarily the rare bird before it flew away."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

As with the Google Maps leak, this too was spotted only momentarily before being pulled, but not before being snapped by the folks over at The Verge, who provided the first screenshot below.

TechCrunch

The league win re-inserted Bayern back into first place position in the league after momentarily losing the spot in late November.

Wikipedia

I cheer up momentarily when I spot a labrador, but it belongs to his publicist.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In the spot, images of fire mutate momentarily into floating fragments of text before dissolving again into flames: "North Korea conducts nuclear test.

The New York Times

You can't get inside Scioscia's head, but it seems reasonable to assume that the minute that grand slam cleared the fence Thursday night Iannetta had at least momentarily solidified his spot behind the plate.

Los Angeles Times

Rudy bolted from his corner once he spotted Joe (and even tried momentarily to get the police on his side), but soon after just rode off on his nice-looking mountain bike.

Huffington Post

Dontstop Themusic dropped out of the front spot only once along the backstretch, momentarily trading places with Love Smitten, who had been keeping pace three-quarters of a length behind the Florida-bred filly.

Los Angeles Times

A related limitation in previous designs was the tendency to have the measuring wheel momentarily stop, thereby leaving one spot on the wheel susceptible to rapid changes to its local condition.

Wear

Nick Holmes put Saints ahead on four minutes, Jesper Olsen equalised in 11 and the game was momentarily stopped soon after for a spot of brawling in the stands.

The Guardian - Sport

So, to keep this circling behaviour from happening, or to correct them and maintain them in the same direction they need to go, do not remain, even momentarily, in any animal's blind spot.

WikiHow

Initially, four OFB microrobots were generated at random locations around the micro-object (Fig. 4a) by momentarily increasing the optical power in each spot using the actuation block (Fig. 2).

Robotics and Biomimetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spot momentarily" when you want to emphasize that the act of noticing something was very brief and possibly unintentional.

Common error

Avoid using "spot momentarily" too frequently in your writing, as it can sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "glimpse briefly" or "notice for a moment" to add variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spot momentarily" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the action of spotting something. The adverb "momentarily" modifies the verb "spot", indicating that the act of seeing or noticing occurred for a very short duration.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spot momentarily" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action of noticing something for a very short time. Although Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, its usage is infrequent. It is most suitable for contexts where emphasizing the fleeting nature of the sighting is important. While alternatives like "glimpse briefly" exist, "spot momentarily" offers a specific nuance emphasizing the briefness of the observation. Due to its rarity, careful consideration should be given to its use to ensure clarity and avoid sounding repetitive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glimpse briefly

Focuses on the fleeting nature of the sighting, emphasizing the brevity of the view.

notice for a moment

Highlights the brief duration of the act of noticing something.

observe fleetingly

Emphasizes the transient quality of the observation.

catch a glimpse

Suggests a quick and incomplete view of something.

see for a second

Specifies an extremely short period of time for the sighting.

detect briefly

Implies a short duration in the act of detecting something.

perceive momentarily

Highlights the temporary nature of the perception.

recognize quickly

Focuses on the speed of recognition.

identify briefly

Stresses the short time frame for the identification process.

view fleetingly

Emphasizes the transient nature of the viewing experience.

FAQs

How can I use "spot momentarily" in a sentence?

You can use "spot momentarily" to describe seeing something briefly. For example, "I managed to spot momentarily the rare bird before it flew away."

What are some alternatives to "spot momentarily"?

You can use alternatives like "glimpse briefly" or "notice for a moment" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "spot momentarily" and "spot briefly"?

"Spot momentarily" emphasizes the very short duration of the sighting, while "spot briefly" (which is not recommended and incorrect) simply indicates a short duration. The difference is subtle, but "spot momentarily" adds a greater sense of transience.

When is it appropriate to use "spot momentarily" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "spot momentarily" when you want to highlight the fleeting nature of seeing something, often unexpectedly or unintentionally. For example, when describing a quick observation of a fast-moving object or a brief view of something hidden.