Brevity: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when emphasizing the shortness of time or communication, often in positive contexts such as speeches or writing.

• The brevity of his speech was appreciated by the audience.
• This essay stands out for its clarity and brevity.

Use when focusing on the clarity and precision of communication without unnecessary details, often in written texts.

• Good report writing requires conciseness.
• Her conciseness made the document much easier to understand.

Use when highlighting the brief and direct manner of expression, typically in both spoken and written forms.

• His succinctness in the meeting saved us a lot of time.
• For clarity and succinctness, I’ll explain the process step by step.

Use when referring to very brief communication that may come off as rude or unfriendly; often has a negative connotation.

• His terse reply left everyone in the room uncomfortable.
• She gave a terse ‘no’ to all his questions.

Use when highlighting the quality of being brief and to the point, often appreciated in communication or writing for its effectiveness.

• The manager praised him for the brevity of his report.
• Brevity is the soul of wit.

More generic than 'brevity,' often used when referring to the short duration of something; can be related to both time and content.

• The briefness of the meeting was unexpected.
• He admired her briefness in explaining complex ideas.

Used more often to describe physical length, duration, or a deficiency; often has a slightly negative connotation.

• The shortness of the runway was a concern for the pilots.
• Due to the shortness of his breath, he decided to see a doctor.

Focuses on using few words without losing the meaning, often in writing or speech; implies clarity and precision.

• Journalists are trained in the art of conciseness.
• Her conciseness made the instructions easy to follow.

Brevity is typically used to describe something that is concise or short in duration, often in the context of speech or writing.

• The professor praised the student's paper for its brevity and clarity.
• In the meeting, everyone appreciated the CEO's brevity as she got straight to the point.

Transience conveys the idea of impermanence or the temporary nature of something, usually in a philosophical or existential context.

• The novel reflects on the transience of human life.
• Traveling often gives one a sense of the transience of time and place.

Ephemerality refers to the quality of being short-lived or temporary. It's often used in artistic, philosophical, or environmental contexts.

• The ephemerality of a sunset makes it even more beautiful.
• Artists often capture the ephemerality of moments in their work.

Fleetingness emphasizes something that passes by quickly, often in an emotional or sensory context, like a feeling or a glimpse.

• She cherished the fleetingness of their brief encounter.
• The fleetingness of childhood is something many parents talk about.