short short story: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “short short story” mean?
A work of fiction that is extremely brief, typically under 1,500 words, often focusing on a single incident, moment, or impression.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A work of fiction that is extremely brief, typically under 1,500 words, often focusing on a single incident, moment, or impression.
In publishing and literary studies, it refers to a distinct subgenre of short fiction defined by its extreme brevity. It is sometimes used interchangeably with terms like 'flash fiction' or 'microfiction,' though precise definitions can vary. The form often emphasizes concision, implication, and a powerful, often sudden, impact on the reader.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The synonymous terms 'flash fiction' and 'microfiction' are common in both varieties, though 'short short story' is the most traditional term.
Connotations
In both regions, it carries a connotation of literary craft and constraint. It may be perceived as a slightly more formal or established term compared to 'flash fiction.'
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both UK and US English, confined to literary, academic, and publishing contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “short short story” in a Sentence
to write [a/the] short short storythe short short story [of/about] Xa short short story [entitled/called] XVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “short short story” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The magazine specialises in short-short-storying contemporary life, capturing moments in under a thousand words.
- He attempted to short-short-story the complex emotion into a mere paragraph.
American English
- The workshop focused on how to short-short-story a compelling narrative arc.
- She brilliantly short-short-storied the entire dilemma in just three scenes.
adverb
British English
- [This derivation is highly non-standard and virtually unattested in natural usage.]
American English
- [This derivation is highly non-standard and virtually unattested in natural usage.]
adjective
British English
- The short-short-story format is demanding for any writer.
- He won a prize for his short-short-story submission.
American English
- The short-short-story competition has a strict 750-word limit.
- Her short-short-story collection was published last year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism and creative writing courses to discuss ultra-short prose forms.
Everyday
Rare; only among enthusiasts of literature or writing.
Technical
A technical term within literary genres and publishing, specifying word count constraints for competitions or publications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “short short story”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “short short story”
- Using it as a general adjective phrase (e.g., 'It was a short, short story' with a comma) rather than as a fixed compound noun referring to the genre.
- Confusing it with a 'short story' and therefore missing the specific connotation of extreme brevity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While definitions vary, it is commonly considered to be a work of fiction under 1,500 words, and often much shorter (e.g., 100-750 words).
In most practical contexts, yes, they are used interchangeably. 'Short short story' is the more traditional literary term, while 'flash fiction' is a modern, popular equivalent.
Its brevity usually necessitates a focus on a single moment, idea, or turning point. While it can imply complexity, it cannot elaborate on a multi-layered plot like a novel can.
Many literary magazines (both print and online), creative writing websites, and specific anthologies specialize in or accept submissions for flash fiction and short short stories.
A work of fiction that is extremely brief, typically under 1,500 words, often focusing on a single incident, moment, or impression.
Short short story is usually literary, academic in register.
Short short story: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːt ˌʃɔːt ˈstɔːri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːrt ˌʃɔːrt ˈstɔːri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly idiomatic; the term itself is a specific literary genre label.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Short' story squared. A short story is already brief, so a 'short short story' is that brevity intensified.
Conceptual Metaphor
LITERATURE IS A JOURNEY → A short short story is a snapshot or a single step, not a journey. LITERATURE IS FOOD → A short short story is an amuse-bouche or an espresso, not a full meal.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common synonym for 'short short story'?