to be brief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be brief" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used at the beginning of a sentence to signal that the speaker or writer is about to provide a summary or conclusion. For example, "To be brief, I believe that we should take this opportunity to make a change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This too is supposed to be brief.

The Economist

This has to be brief.

The Guardian - Sport

To be brief, Betty's husband is scalped.

The New York Times

Her stay there was intended to be brief.

The New York Times

Her stay in London is to be brief.

The Guardian - Film

"I'll try to be brief," the elegant man promised.

The New York Times

The trick is to "be brief, be bright, be gone".

The Guardian

A joke, unlike a tale, wants to be brief.

The New Yorker

More than Mr. Gore, he knows how to be brief.

The New York Times

These days, their conversations tended to be brief and perfunctory.

The New Yorker

To be brief, who is going to pay for this?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be brief" at the start of a sentence or clause to clearly signal your intention to provide a concise summary or explanation. This helps manage the reader's expectations.

Common error

Avoid starting too many consecutive sentences with "to be brief", as it can become repetitive and detract from your writing. Vary your sentence structure and use alternative phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be brief" functions as an introductory phrase, signaling the speaker or writer's intent to provide a condensed version of information. It serves as a discourse marker, guiding the audience to expect a concise explanation or summary. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be brief" is a grammatically correct and very common way to indicate that you are about to provide a concise summary or explanation. As Ludwig AI shows, it is widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. To ensure clarity, it's best to use this phrase at the beginning of a sentence and follow it with a comma. While versatile, overuse can make your writing repetitive, so consider alternatives like "in short" or "briefly". Keep in mind that this phrase is suitable for formal and informal communication. This analysis provides writers with a comprehensive guide to using "to be brief" effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in short

Emphasizes conciseness and directness.

briefly

Focuses on the manner of speaking or writing.

in summary

Highlights the summarizing aspect.

to put it briefly

Adds a bit more emphasis on the conciseness.

in a nutshell

More informal, implying a very concise explanation.

to be concise

Focuses on being succinct and avoiding unnecessary details.

in essence

Highlights the fundamental nature of something.

summarizing

Gerund form focusing on the action of summarizing

to cut a long story short

More conversational, indicating the omission of details.

long story short

Focuses on the result, rather than the initial intention to shorten

FAQs

How can I use "to be brief" in a sentence?

The phrase "to be brief" is usually placed at the beginning of a sentence to signal that you are about to provide a concise summary or explanation. For example, "To be brief, the project was a success".

What are some alternatives to "to be brief"?

You can use alternatives like "in short", "briefly", or "in summary" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it always necessary to follow "to be brief" with a comma?

Yes, it's generally recommended to follow "to be brief" with a comma. This helps to separate the introductory phrase from the main clause of the sentence and improves readability.

Can I use "to be brief" in formal writing?

Yes, "to be brief" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. It is a versatile phrase that can be used in various contexts to indicate conciseness.