B2 verb خنثی #13,000 رایج‌ترین 2 دقیقه مطالعه

briefness

/ˈbriːfnəs/

Briefness is the state of being short in time or limited in word count.

واژه در 30 ثانیه

  • Refers to a short duration of time.
  • Describes the quality of being concise in speech.
  • Often implies efficiency or lack of detail.

Overview

Briefness is a noun derived from the adjective 'brief.' It captures the essence of brevity, focusing on the state of being short-lived or compact. While 'brevity' is more commonly used in formal contexts, 'briefness' is a perfectly acceptable synonym that highlights the physical or temporal state of something being short.

Usage Patterns

You will often see 'briefness' used to describe the duration of an encounter or the style of a message. It is frequently paired with prepositions like 'of' or 'in.' For instance, one might comment on the 'briefness of the meeting' or the 'briefness of his reply.' It is a neutral term that can carry either a positive connotation (efficiency) or a negative one (lack of depth).

Common Contexts

In professional settings, briefness is often praised as a virtue; managers appreciate the briefness of a status report because it saves time. Conversely, in interpersonal relationships, the briefness of an apology or a conversation might be interpreted as coldness or a lack of interest. It is also used in academic or legal contexts to describe the concise nature of a summary or a legal brief.

Similar Words Comparison

'Brevity' is the most common synonym, often used in the idiom 'brevity is the soul of wit.' 'Conciseness' focuses specifically on the economy of words, whereas 'briefness' can apply to both time and language. 'Shortness' is a more general term that can refer to physical height, whereas 'briefness' is almost exclusively reserved for time or communication.

مثال‌ها

1

The briefness of his visit left us wanting more time to talk.

everyday

The short duration of his visit...

2

Due to the briefness of the report, the committee requested more data.

formal

Because the report was too short...

3

I liked the briefness of her text; it got straight to the point.

informal

I liked how short her text was...

4

The briefness of the summary belies the complexity of the research.

academic

The conciseness of the summary hides...

مترادف‌ها

brevity conciseness succinctness shortness pithiness transience

متضادها

lengthiness verbosity prolixity

ترکیب‌های رایج

surprising briefness unexpectedly short
noted for its briefness known for being short
the briefness of the encounter the short duration of the meeting

عبارات رایج

in the interest of briefness

to keep things short

a moment of briefness

a very short time

اغلب اشتباه گرفته می‌شود با

briefness vs Brevity

Brevity is a more formal and literary synonym for briefness. It is more commonly used in high-level writing.

briefness vs Shortness

Shortness usually refers to physical height or length in a literal sense. Briefness is reserved for abstract concepts like time or information.

الگوهای دستوری

the briefness of [noun] appreciate the briefness of [noun] due to the briefness of [noun]

How to Use It

نکات کاربردی

Briefness is a neutral noun. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, though 'brevity' is preferred in formal writing. It acts as a countable concept but is most often used in the singular.


اشتباهات رایج

Learners often use 'shortness' when they mean 'briefness.' Remember that 'shortness' relates to physical size, while 'briefness' relates to time or speech. Also, avoid using it as an adjective; use 'brief' instead.

Tips

💡

Use brevity for more formal writing

While briefness is correct, 'brevity' is often preferred in formal essays or professional correspondence. It sounds slightly more sophisticated to native speakers.

⚠️

Do not confuse with short-lived

Briefness refers to the quality itself, while 'short-lived' is an adjective. Ensure you are using the noun form when describing the state of something.

🌍

Efficiency in Western culture

In many Western business cultures, briefness is highly valued. Being able to communicate clearly and quickly is often seen as a sign of respect for others' time.

ریشه کلمه

Derived from the Middle English 'brief' (short), which comes from the Old French 'bref' and the Latin 'brevis.' The suffix '-ness' is added to turn the adjective into a noun denoting a state or quality.

بافت فرهنگی

In many cultures, the concept of briefness is tied to the value of time. In fast-paced societies, briefness is often equated with efficiency and respect.

راهنمای حفظ

Think of a 'brief' case—it is compact and carries only what is necessary. Briefness is the quality of being like a brief case: compact and quick.

سوالات متداول

4 سوال

Yes, they are synonyms. Brevity is more common in formal or literary writing, while briefness is a more direct derivative of the adjective 'brief'.

No. You should use 'shortness' to describe physical height. Briefness is strictly for time or the amount of information provided.

It depends on the context. It is positive when it means being efficient, but it can be negative if it implies a lack of necessary detail or emotional warmth.

You can use it as the subject or object of a sentence, such as 'The briefness of the storm surprised us' or 'I appreciated the briefness of his instructions.'

خودت رو بسنج

fill blank

The ___ of the ceremony allowed everyone to get home before the rain started.

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: briefness

Briefness describes the duration of an event, whereas the other options do not fit the context of a ceremony's length.

multiple choice

Which of the following is the best synonym for briefness?

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Brevity

Brevity is the direct synonym for the quality of being brief.

sentence building

meeting / the / briefness / of / the / surprised / everyone

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: The briefness of the meeting surprised everyone.

This follows the standard English subject-verb-object structure.

امتیاز: /3

Related Content

واژه‌های بیشتر Time

minute

A2

یک دقیقه یعنی ۶۰ ثانیه. برای اندازه‌گیری زمان‌های کوتاه یا مشخص کردن وقتی در یک ساعت استفاده می‌شه.

antetempful

C1

Describing an action, state, or mindset that occurs or is prepared significantly ahead of the expected or required time. It implies a proactive and anticipatory quality, often used to describe planning or behavior that preempts future needs.

antactate

C1

Describing a condition, action, or state that occurs or is required prior to a primary event or process. It is frequently used in technical or academic contexts to denote necessary preparatory measures or antecedent conditions.

April

A1

April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, following March and preceding May. It has 30 days and is typically associated with the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere.

prepaterent

C1

یعنی یه چیزی قبل از زمان مقرر یا قبل از یه اتفاق اصلی، ظاهر بشه یا قابل دیدن بشه.

period

B2

A length or portion of time that is defined by specific events, characteristics, or conditions. It can also refer to one of the divisions of a school day or a punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence.

lifetime

A1

یعنی کل زمانی که یک نفر زنده است. یا مثلاً عمر یک دستگاه که چقدر خوب کار می‌کنه.

Saturday

A1

شنبه روز بعد از جمعه و قبل از یکشنبه است. معمولاً اولین روز تعطیلات آخر هفته برای استراحت یا تفریح است.

day after tomorrow

A1

The day that comes after the one that follows today. It refers to a point in time two days into the future from the current day.

daytime

A1

The period of time during the day when there is light from the sun. It is the part of the day between sunrise and sunset when most people are active.

مفید بود؟
هنوز نظری وجود ندارد. اولین نفری باشید که افکار خود را به اشتراک می‌گذارد!