though short

USAGE SUMMARY

"though short" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it as an introductory phrase to add emphasis to a clause, or as a conjunctive adverb to connect clauses. For example: "Though short, his lifetime was filled with great accomplishments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

That's competitive, though short of startling.

The New York Times

Useless delivery though, short and wide.

The Guardian - Sport

Though short, "Selected Play," by 605 Collective, dragged along.

The New York Times - Arts

Though short, this data set provides reasonable precipitation when compared with other weather station relevant estimates.

Geomorphology

Summer experiences, though short and brief, can be so incredibly valuable and transformative.

Harvard University

Chairman Max Baucus's "mark" was already a sufficiently multifaceted piece of work, though short and readable.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

At the moment, though, short-term rates are already near zero and can't be cut further.

The New Yorker

Paradoxically, though, short-eared owls are ten-a-penny this year.

The Guardian

Though short-lived in their initial form, civic aggiornamenti magnified the impact of religious aggiornamento.

Stanford University

Though short-lived, the Blood-Stained Banner couldn't be used to say uncle.

Independent

As for you enterprising though short-tempered Cancers, you can find an ONYX at 4 Down.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "though short", ensure the contrast being introduced is clear and impactful. It is most effective when the brevity is surprising or unexpected given the context.

Common error

Avoid using "though short" when the brevity is already obvious or irrelevant to the main point. It's crucial that the shortness actually contributes to the meaning or argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "though short" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a concessive clause. It modifies the main clause by presenting a contrast or exception, acknowledging the brevity of something while highlighting another aspect. Ludwig examples confirm this function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "though short" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase functioning as an adverbial element to introduce a contrasting clause. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts. While it concedes brevity, the phrase emphasizes another aspect, often positive, creating a balanced perspective. Predominantly found in news, media, and scientific sources, its register tends towards neutral to formal, making it suitable for professional and educated audiences. When employing "though short", ensure the contrast is meaningful and that the brevity isn't an already obvious detail. Alternatives like "although brief" or "despite its brevity" can offer similar nuanced expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

although brief

Replaces "short" with "brief", emphasizing the limited duration.

though not lengthy

Emphasizes the lack of length, providing a direct synonym for shortness.

albeit concise

Offers a more succinct and slightly formal alternative, replacing "though short" with a single word.

despite its brevity

Highlights the concise nature using a more formal tone.

despite being limited

Highlights the condition of being restricted, similar to being short.

even if concise

Replaces "though" with "even if", focusing on a condition.

even though it's succinct

Replaces 'short' with 'succinct', emphasizing the concise nature of the subject.

while limited in scope

Emphasizes restriction in extent rather than just duration.

while not extensive

Focuses on the lack of extensiveness rather than mere shortness.

notwithstanding its length

Uses a more formal and emphatic way to indicate that something happens regardless of its limited length.

FAQs

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

You can use "though short" to introduce a contrasting idea despite the briefness of something. For example, "Though short, the meeting was productive."

What are some alternatives to saying "though short"?

Alternatives include "although brief", "despite its brevity", or "even if concise", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it better to say "though short" or "although short"?

Both "though short" and "although short" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. "Though" is generally considered slightly more informal than "although".

What's the difference between "though short" and "in short"?

"Though short" introduces a contrasting point despite brevity, while "in short" is used to summarize or condense information. They serve different functions in a sentence.