Words / C1

BREV-uh-tee/ˈbrevəti/

Brevity is the quality of using few words or lasting a short time: the brevity of her speech. Shortness is everyday but can sound like a defect; conciseness is closer for writing that is short and clear. Brief is the adjective; brevity is the noun examiners like. In speech, keeping it short is enough. Brevity is praise when nothing needed is missing; if the argument is cut, that is mere shortness.

Meaning

The quality of using few words or lasting a short time.

Examples

• “The brevity of her speech made it more powerful.”
• “The brevity of the abstract made the method easy to scan.”
• “Aim for brevity in the conclusion, not a new literature review.”

Good to know

Few words / short duration. Adjective: brief. Close: conciseness (short and clear). Everyday: keeping it short. Praise, not a stub.

Near in meaning

conciseness

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