Breif vs. Brief — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 22, 2024
"Breif" is incorrect, while "Brief" is the correct spelling. "Brief" describes something short in duration or extent.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Breif or Brief
How to spell Brief?
Breif
Incorrect Spelling
Brief
Correct Spelling
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Think of "i before e except after c."
Visualize a short letter, or "brief," as being brief in content.
Connect "brief" to "briefcase," which has the same spelling.
Recall that the term “debrief” uses the same spelling.
"Brief" has the word "be" at the start, followed by “r-i-e-f”.
ADVERTISEMENT
How Do You Spell Brief Correctly?
Incorrect: The meeting was surprisingly breif.
Correct: The meeting was surprisingly brief.
Incorrect: She received a breif from her lawyer about the case.
Correct: She received a brief from her lawyer about the case.
Incorrect: Please keep your comments breif during the discussion.
Correct: Please keep your comments brief during the discussion.
Incorrect: He gave a breif overview of the project's goals.
Correct: He gave a brief overview of the project's goals.
Incorrect: The teacher asked for a breif summary of the book.
Correct: The teacher asked for a brief summary of the book.
Brief Definitions
Of short duration.
We had a brief meeting.
To inform someone about something.
The general briefed the president on the situation.
Not covering much or enough.
The shorts were too brief.
Short in time, duration, length, or extent.
Succinct; concise
A brief account of the incident.
Curt; abrupt
We were upset because he was so brief with us.
A short, succinct statement.
A condensation or an abstract of a larger document or series of documents.
(Law) A document concisely stating the legal points being made, including often the citation and explanation of supporting legal authority.
Roman Catholic Church A papal letter that is not as formal as a bull.
A briefing.
Often briefs Short, tight-fitting underpants.
Briefs Chiefly British The instructions that are given to explain a task or assignment.
To give instructions or preparatory information to
Briefed the astronauts before the mission.
To summarize.
Of short duration; happening quickly.
Her reign was brief but spectacular.
Concise; taking few words.
His speech of acceptance was brief but moving.
Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.
Her skirt was extremely brief but doubtless cool.
(obsolete) Rife; common; prevalent.
(legal) A writ summoning one to answer; an official letter or mandate.
(legal) An answer to any action.
(legal) A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
A position of interest or advocacy.
(legal) An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
(English law) The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.
A short news story or report.
We got a news brief.
Underwear briefs.
I wear boxers under trousers but for sports I usually wear a brief.
(obsolete) A summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.
A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
(slang) A ticket of any type.
(transitive) To summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power.
The U.S. president was briefed on the military coup and its implications on African stability.
To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.
Briefly.
Soon; quickly.
Short in duration.
How brief the life of man.
Concise; terse; succinct.
The brief style is that which expresseth much in little.
Rife; common; prevalent.
A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words.
Bear this sealed brief,With winged hastle, to the lord marshal.
And she told meIn a sweet, verbal brief.
An epitome.
Each woman is a brief of womankind.
An abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument.
It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a brief.
A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence.
A type of men's underpants without legs, fitting tightly and held by an elastic waistband; also called Jockey shorts.
To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings.
A document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case
A condensed written summary or abstract
Give essential information to someone;
The reporters were briefed about the President's plan to invade
Of short duration or distance;
A brief stay in the country
In a little while
It's a little way away
Concise and succinct;
Covered the matter in a brief statement
(of clothing) very short;
An abbreviated swimsuit
A brief bikini
Concise in expression.
The speech was brief and to the point.
A summary of facts or legal points.
The lawyer prepared a brief for the case.
Brief Meaning in a Sentence
The president gave a brief statement to the press.
Can you give me a brief description of what happened?
The company issued a brief report on its quarterly earnings.
She had a brief career in acting before becoming a writer.
After a brief pause, the speaker continued with his presentation.
The lawyer prepared a brief for the upcoming trial.
Their vacation was brief, but they enjoyed every moment.
The teacher's feedback on my essay was surprisingly brief.
The conference will start with a brief introduction by the host.
He glanced at the brief summary before the meeting.
She made a brief appearance in the film.
The introduction to the course was brief and to the point.
The meeting was brief, lasting only about 15 minutes.
His tenure as CEO was brief but impactful.
The research paper included a brief literature review.
The author's bio at the back of the book is brief but informative.
The document contained a brief overview of the policy changes.
Following a brief delay, the concert started.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of Brief?
"Brief" (as in "to brief someone").
Which vowel is used before Brief?
It depends on the context, but typically "a" as in "a brief."
Why is it called Brief?
Derived from Latin "brevis," meaning "short," it indicates something concise or of short duration.
Which preposition is used with Brief?
"On" as in "brief on the topic."
What is the root word of Brief?
It originates from the Latin word "brevis."
Is Brief a noun or adjective?
It can be both.
Is Brief an abstract noun?
When referring to a summary or legal points, yes.
What is the plural form of Brief?
"Briefs."
What is the pronunciation of Brief?
/briːf/.
Which conjunction is used with Brief?
Any conjunction can be used, depending on the sentence.
Is Brief a negative or positive word?
Neutral. It simply refers to a short duration or extent.
What is the singular form of Brief?
"Brief."
Is Brief an adverb?
No.
Is the Brief term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically in some contexts.
Which determiner is used with Brief?
"This," "that," "his," "her," etc.
What is the second form of Brief?
Briefed.
Is Brief a vowel or consonant?
"Brief" is a word, not a single letter.
Is Brief a collective noun?
No.
What part of speech is Brief?
It can be a noun, verb, or adjective.
Is the word Brief imperative?
It can be when used as a verb, e.g., "Brief me on the situation."
How do we divide Brief into syllables?
It doesn't divide; it's one syllable.
What is a stressed syllable in Brief?
"Brief" itself, as it's one syllable.
Which article is used with Brief?
"A" or "the" depending on context.
Is Brief a countable noun?
Yes.
What is another term for Brief?
Summary.
What is the first form of Brief?
Brief.
How many syllables are in Brief?
One syllable.
What is the opposite of Brief?
Lengthy or long.
What is the third form of Brief?
Briefed.
How is Brief used in a sentence?
"Can you give me a brief summary of the event?"
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Examinated vs. Examined
Next Comparison
Presance vs. PreseanceAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
