Brief struggle to secure grand after deductions (8)
I believe the answer is:
vignette
'brief' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'struggle to secure grand after deductions' is the wordplay.
'struggle' becomes 'vie' (to vie is to struggle or contend with).
'to secure' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are secured inside).
'grand' becomes 'g' (G is short for grand as in a thousand).
'after deductions' becomes 'nett' (I've seen this before).
'g'+'nett'='gnett'
'vie' enclosing 'gnett' is 'VIGNETTE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for vignette that I've seen before include "Small illustration at the beginning or end of a book" , "Character sketch - word picture" , "Brief literary description" , "Brief evocative account" , "Brief evocative description" .)