brevity

Everyday

1. (formal) Using few words; being short and to the point when speaking or writing. tree →
2. (formal) The shortness of time something lasts, as in «the brevity of life». tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons it is praised in writing: say what you mean clearly without extra words. A famous saying from Shakespeare's Hamlet: «Brevity is the soul of wit». In exams and formal writing, «for brevity» means «to keep it short».

Examples

• The teacher praised the brevity of my answer. tree →
• For brevity, I will only list the main points. tree →
• Brevity is the soul of wit. tree →
• The brevity of the summer made us sad. tree →
• Text messages need brevity. tree →
• The speech was famous for its brevity: only two minutes. tree →
• Haiku poems show the beauty of brevity. tree →

Note

Uncountable formal noun; in everyday talk say «shortness» or «keeping it short». Related adjective: brief. Spelling: brev-i-ty, not «brief-ity».