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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a low attention
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a low attention" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe a state of having low attention or focus, but it is not commonly used in this form. Example: "The study found that students exhibited a low level of attention during the lecture."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
He had a low attention span, but was "very Educating Yorkshire – in that if someone put something in my head I was on to it".
News & Media
The large percentages of abstracts that do not specify the methodological approach, the data gathering method and the sample size, still suggest a low attention to the communication of methodological aspects of qualitative studies.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
They call their invention a "low-attention recording unit" that lets the wearer continue to take part in whatever is being recorded.
News & Media
And if the criterion of victory is going to be celebrity impact in a low-attention-span culture, the horrific truth shows its orange face: in a race to the bottom of modern culture, Trump cannot lose.
News & Media
One patient with a remarkably low attention (an outlier) who exhibited a good response to methylphenidate was excluded from this regression model (see patient 7; Table 1).
As well as the core quartet of Logos, Slackk, Mr Mitch and Oil Gang, there'll be Spooky, a grime legend with a very low attention span who slaps you with smash after smash, Novelist's DJ Grandmixxer and soulful rising producer Finn.
News & Media
I'm not very good at sitting down, I've got a very low attention span, I'm not very good at reading and I don't really sit in the sun because I like to protect my skin.
News & Media
Although there are several researches investigating the effect of flow field design, the parallel in series flow fields have, however, received a very low attention.
Like the Gallup poll, a separate Pew poll found low attention to the situation in Syria.
News & Media
The experimental task involved sound localization among 15 positions, which demanded intense attention and was less easy to perform, whereas the control task required detection of a different pitch, which required low attention and was easy to perform.
Science
We can now say that strong FI, leading to strong mutual inhibition between coactive HNCs, corresponds, at the cognitive level, to small amounts of attentional resources available for processing new sensory input (as small amounts of resources, or low attention, imply a tougher competition between costimulated lexical representations, and between ongoing activity in the brain and sensory input).
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Instead of using "a low attention", opt for grammatically correct and clearer alternatives like "low level of attention" or "short attention span" to ensure your writing is easily understood.
Common error
Avoid using the phrase "a low attention" in formal writing. While it may seem intuitive, it's not standard English. Instead, clarify your meaning with phrases like "a low level of attention" or "poor attention span".
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a low attention" functions as a noun phrase intended to describe a reduced capacity for attentiveness. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Instead, it's better to use terms such as "low level of attention" or "reduced attention span".
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "a low attention" aims to describe a state of reduced attentiveness, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English, as Ludwig AI points out. Its occurrence is rare, primarily appearing in news and scientific contexts. For clearer and more accurate communication, it's advisable to use alternatives like "low level of attention", "short attention span", or "difficulty concentrating". These alternatives ensure grammatical correctness and are more widely accepted in both formal and informal writing, and have the same meaning.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
poor attention span
Replaces "low" with "poor" and "attention" with "span" to emphasize the limited duration of focus.
reduced attention
Uses "reduced" instead of "low", implying a decrease in attentiveness.
limited attention span
Emphasizes the restriction on how long attention can be sustained, replacing the adjective "low" with "limited" and adding the noun "span".
short attention span
Describes the duration of attention as "short" rather than "low", emphasizing the briefness of focus.
lack of focus
Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct expression indicating an absence of focus.
difficulty concentrating
Focuses on the struggle to concentrate rather than the level of attention itself.
easily distracted
Highlights the susceptibility to distractions, indicating a challenge in maintaining attention.
attention deficit
Uses the term "deficit" to describe the lack of attention.
inattentiveness
Uses a single word to describe the state of not paying attention.
wandering mind
Uses metaphorical language to describe a state where attention is not fixed or sustained.
FAQs
What does it mean to have "a low level of attention"?
Having "a low level of attention" means that someone struggles to focus or concentrate on tasks or information for extended periods.
What can I say instead of "a low attention span"?
You can use alternatives like "short attention span", "poor attention span", or "limited attention" depending on the context.
Which is correct, "a low attention" or "low attention span"?
"Low attention span" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "A low attention" is not grammatically correct in standard English.
What's the difference between "difficulty concentrating" and "a low attention span"?
"Difficulty concentrating" describes the act of struggling to focus, while "low attention span" describes the limited amount of time one can focus.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested