to keep it brief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to keep it brief" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that you will provide a concise summary or explanation. Example: "To keep it brief, our main goal is to increase sales by 20% this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

As I've been asked to keep it brief, I'll make three brief points.

The Guardian - Opinion

Just remember to keep it brief and work related: 'just finished a great project... looking forward to the next one' for example.

The Guardian

Letters are welcome via e-mail to [email protected]'s constitutionSIR—I applaud your bold attempt to draft a constitution for the European Union, and to keep it brief ("Our constitution for Europe", October 28th).

The Economist

A publicist, seeing us approach, asked us to keep it brief, as Ms. Campbell did not care for reporters -- an assessment, given Ms. Campbell's eye rolls, we are inclined to accept.

The New York Times

In her latest rebellion, she wrote as much as she could fit in the comment box on each student's report card, despite advice from veterans to "keep it brief".

The New York Times

By Laurie Lee The New Yorker, July 8 , 1950 P. 26Blue-pencil knife, to keep it brief, View Article By Rebecca Mead By Anthony Lane By George Packer By Andy Borowitz.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

What seems more or less agreed is that the ballot that starts when the last of the 10 expected nominees stops talking (tip to candidates: keep it brief) will quickly eliminate most runners.

The Guardian

When you feel like you want to say something keep it brief and do not feel like everything you have to say needs to be said in this one conversation.

WikiHow

If a situation exists in which you need to keep your phone on vibrate and then must take a call, excuse yourself politely to take the call, keep it brief and return to your guests promptly to explain why you had to answer the call.

WikiHow

Some more obvious issues: Get to the point; keep it brief and state exactly what you would like from them (i.e., say " please"), and not what you want.

Science Magazine

If you can cite evidence to demonstrate your commitment to teaching, do it, but again, keep it brief.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to keep it brief" to signal that you are about to provide a concise explanation or summary, which helps manage audience expectations and maintains their attention.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences or paragraphs with "to keep it brief". Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and insincere. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms to maintain a natural and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to keep it brief" functions as an introductory phrase, often used to signal that the speaker or writer intends to provide a concise summary or explanation. It sets the expectation that the information will be presented in a succinct manner, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

25%

Huffington Post

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academic

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to keep it brief" is a grammatically correct and frequently used introductory phrase that signals a commitment to conciseness. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is typically used to manage audience expectations and assure them that the speaker or writer will be succinct. While generally appropriate for a variety of contexts, including news articles and general communication, it might be less suitable for highly formal or scientific settings. The best practice is to use the phrase to set clear expectations for a concise explanation, but avoid overusing it to prevent sounding repetitive. Common alternatives include "in brief", "briefly" and "in a nutshell".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in brief

Replaces the introductory phrase with a concise prepositional phrase.

briefly

Uses an adverb to convey the same meaning of providing a short explanation.

in a nutshell

Emphasizes a very condensed summary.

to be concise

Highlights the intention to avoid unnecessary details.

put simply

Focuses on making the explanation easy to understand by keeping it short.

in short

Indicates a summary is about to be given.

to summarize

Signals a recap of the main points.

in summary

Similar to "to summarize" but uses a prepositional phrase.

long story short

Indicates the speaker is skipping details to reach the conclusion.

without further ado

Quickly transitions to the main point without a lengthy introduction.

FAQs

How can I use "to keep it brief" in a sentence?

You can start a sentence with "to keep it brief" before giving a summary or explanation. For example, "To keep it brief, the project was successful because of teamwork and dedication."

What phrases are similar to "to keep it brief"?

Alternatives include "in brief", "briefly", or "in a nutshell", which all serve to indicate that you're going to be concise.

Is it okay to use "to keep it brief" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the formality of your audience. In extremely formal contexts, alternatives like "to be concise" might be more appropriate. The appropriateness depends on the tone and context.

Can I use "to keep it brief" at the end of a sentence?

It's more common to use "to keep it brief" at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a short summary. However, you can rephrase it to fit the end, such as "I'll make this explanation brief".