Briefness Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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briefness
[ˈbriːfnəs ]
Definitions
in communication
The quality of being concise and to the point. Briefness is often valued in professional writing and speaking.
Synonyms
brevity, conciseness, succinctness.
Examples of usage
- He was praised for the briefness of his presentation.
- The briefness of her email made it easy to understand.
time duration
A short period of time or duration. It refers to something that is of short length or duration.
Synonyms
brevity, conciseness, shortness.
Examples of usage
- The briefness of the meeting surprised everyone.
- I was impressed by the briefness of the ceremony.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Literature
- Many poets favor briefness to convey emotions powerfully in limited words, as seen in haikus.
- Famous writers like Ernest Hemingway are known for their concise style, which emphasizes clarity and simplicity.
- The concept of 'literary minimalism' focuses on brief expressions in storytelling, often leaving much to reader interpretation.
Communication
- Effective communication often relies on briefness to maintain the listener's attention and ensure understanding.
- In business, being brief can improve meeting efficiency; the 'elevator pitch' exemplifies succinctness designed for quick persuasion.
- Social media platforms encourage briefness due to character limits, leading to new forms of language and expression.
Psychology
- Research suggests that people often prefer brief information, associating it with clarity and ease of understanding.
- Cognitive load theory indicates that shorter communication helps in managing mental effort while processing information.
- The 'Tip-of-the-Tongue' phenomenon shows that brevity can sometimes aid memory retrieval by focusing on fewer details.
Philosophy
- In philosophical discussions, briefness can lead to greater depth as it encourages stripping away unnecessary details to find core ideas.
- Socratic dialogue often involves concise questioning, prompting participants to think critically and articulate ideas succinctly.
- Stoicism emphasizes briefness in thought and speech, stressing the importance of essential truths over lengthy discourse.
Origin of 'briefness'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'briefness' comes from the Latin term 'brevis', meaning short.
- In Middle English, 'brieve' was used to denote something short or concise, which later evolved into the modern form.
- The suffix '-ness' turns adjectives into nouns, making 'brief' into 'briefness' to describe the state of being short.
The word 'briefness' originated from the Middle English 'briefnesse', which was derived from the Old French 'brief', meaning 'short'. The concept of brevity and conciseness has been valued in communication throughout history, with the term evolving to represent both the quality of being concise and a short time duration.