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Does it make sense to say:

Please consider this email as a meantime brief report.

If yes, why? and if no, how can it be fixed?

Edit By the above sentence, I want to say that this email is not the main report but, in the meantime, I just want to update you about the status and I'll send you another email later.

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    What dictionary did you find listing meantime as an adjective?
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Apr 9, 2013 at 21:52
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    You know, above is also not an adjective.
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Apr 9, 2013 at 21:54
  • @tchrist: that's a great comment, but I heard it many many times. Are you too picky or is it really wrong? How should I fix it then? "By the sentence above ..." is OK?
    – Helium
    Commented Apr 9, 2013 at 22:02
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    Just move the word ahead: Meanwhile (not meantime, though), please consider this email as a brief report.
    – Kris
    Commented Apr 10, 2013 at 5:18
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    @Mitch: I'm sorry - I've been trying to firm up this comment. At personal.stevens.edu/~ysakamot/creativity/carin%20dual.pdf Christina L. Gagne avers: 'An interesting feature of the English language is that any noun can be used as an adjective.' Since 'meantime' is listed as a noun (AHD, Collins etc), if Gagne is correct (and 'noun modifiers' are certainly extremely common), then this usage is 'licensed'. I'd say this wouldn't convert it to an adjective. And I wouldn't use it myself.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Apr 10, 2013 at 11:41

2 Answers 2

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You are looking for interim, preliminary, draft, or progress. (Watch the adjective order, they go after brief.) You are not looking for meanwhile, which is not an adjective, as a dictionary of your choice will be quick to point out.

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"Meantime" is a noun and an adverb, not an adjective.

As I do not understand the true meaning you are attempting to convey, I cannot provide advice on how to correct your statement.

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