though briefly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "though briefly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is being mentioned or done for a short period of time or in a concise manner. Example: "The speaker addressed the audience, though briefly, before moving on to the next topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

He had it again – though  briefly – with Lin.

The New York Times

Esquire ran such stories on occasion, and The National did, too, though briefly.

The New Yorker

She has been happily though briefly married to an Army sergeant, who is now overseas.

The New Yorker

("The Book of Mormon" is the third Broadway show featuring Jesus — though briefly, for comic effect).

The New York Times

The founding fathers considered, though briefly, making Greek the official language.

The Economist

A Russian aircraft did, though, briefly enter airspace belonging to Finland, which is not a Nato member, on 26 June.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

For most of the rest of his life, though often briefly in England, he was essentially an expatriate in Ireland.

The Guardian - Books

We thus only report the results for wives' mental health (see Table 3), though do briefly discuss gender differences in responses.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

In the final section, though, we will briefly discuss some further methodological and epistemological issues which arise.

SEP

Briefly, though, YRBS data are collected biennially via a two-stage cluster sampling approach, with inverse probability weights applied to adjust for oversampling and non-response.

Injury Epidemiology

Make sure you give eye contact briefly, though, as this usually makes them think better of what they're doing.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "though briefly", ensure it connects logically to the surrounding clauses, providing a clear contrast or qualification to the main statement.

Common error

Avoid using "though briefly" in simple sentences where its nuance isn't necessary; instead, opt for more direct and concise wording. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "though briefly" functions as an adverbial modifier, adding information about the duration of an action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound way to introduce a qualification about time. This is evident in examples like "Though briefly a journalist..." where it modifies 'a journalist'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

18%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "though briefly" is a grammatically sound adverbial modifier used to qualify a statement by indicating a short duration. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is most frequently found in news and media, Wikipedia, and scientific contexts. While versatile, overusing it in simple sentences can lead to wordiness. Related phrases include "albeit briefly" and "even if momentarily", offering alternative ways to convey a similar meaning. By understanding its proper usage, writers can effectively add nuance and precision to their prose, avoiding common errors such as unnecessary complexity. Always ensure it logically connects to the surrounding clauses to provide a clear contrast or qualification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

albeit for a short time

Emphasizes the limited duration, highlighting the exception to the main point.

even if momentarily

Stresses the fleeting nature of the action or state, suggesting it occurred for a very short instance.

if only for a moment

Highlights the brevity and perhaps the significance of a single, short period.

even though fleetingly

Uses a more descriptive adverb to emphasize the transient quality of the event.

despite its short duration

Directly refers to the limited time frame as a factor, contrasting it with another aspect.

however concisely

Shifts focus from time to the succinctness or brevity of an action or statement.

in spite of the limited time

Similar to 'despite its short duration', but emphasizes the constraint of time.

but for a little while

Uses more informal language to convey the idea of something happening for a short period.

yet in a succinct manner

Combines the contrasting element with the conciseness of the action.

notwithstanding its brevity

A more formal way of saying 'despite its short duration', emphasizing the brevity.

FAQs

How can I use "though briefly" in a sentence?

You can use "though briefly" to indicate that something happened or existed for a short time. For instance, "The company's stock price surged, "though briefly", after the announcement."

What phrases are similar to "though briefly"?

Alternatives to "though briefly" include phrases like "albeit briefly", "even if momentarily", or "if only for a moment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "though briefly"?

No, the inclusion of "though briefly" depends on whether it adds meaningful nuance to your sentence. If the brevity is crucial to understanding the situation, then it's appropriate; otherwise, it might be redundant.

What's the difference between "though briefly" and "though temporarily"?

"Though briefly" emphasizes the short duration of something, while "though temporarily" suggests that something is not permanent but may last longer than a brief moment. The choice depends on whether you want to focus on the duration or the impermanence.