Cool MateBriefly vs Shortly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Briefly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Shortly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| Briefly | Shortly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbriːfli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbriːfli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʃɔːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʃɔːrtli/"]/ |
| Meaning | For a short time or in a few words. | In a little time; soon. |
| Example | He had spoken to Emma **only briefly**. | She arrived shortly after us. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | explain briefly, discuss briefly, mention briefly | arrive shortly, speak shortly, come shortly, finish shortly, depart shortly |
| Antonyms | lengthily, extensively | later, afterward |
| Common mistakes | Using 'brief' instead of 'briefly' (confusing the adjective and adverb)., Saying 'briefly discuss' when 'discuss briefly' is more natural., Misplacing it in a sentence so that it doesn't clearly modify the verb. | Confusing 'shortly' with 'briefly' — 'shortly' refers to time, while 'briefly' refers to duration., Using 'shortly' for distant future events — it's used for things happening soon, not days later., Omitting the context; learners may forget to specify 'shortly' before what will happen. |
| Usage notes | Use 'briefly' when you want to indicate that something is short or to the point. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts. Avoid it when you need to describe something in detail. | Use 'shortly' to indicate that something will happen soon, usually within a few minutes or hours. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it in very informal conversations where simpler terms like 'soon' might be preferred. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Briefly vs Shortly
What's the difference between Briefly and Shortly?
Briefly: For a short time or in a few words. Shortly: In a little time; soon.
Are Briefly and Shortly the same CEFR level?
Briefly: B2, Shortly: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Briefly and Shortly?
Briefly: adverb, Shortly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Briefly: He had spoken to Emma **only briefly**. Shortly: She arrived shortly after us.
Can I use Briefly and Shortly interchangeably?
Not always. Briefly and Shortly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.