an initial focus of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an initial focus of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the primary area of attention or concentration at the beginning of a project, study, or discussion. Example: "The research will have an initial focus of understanding the impact of climate change on local ecosystems."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He also kept open the possibility that a North Korean submarine might have launched a torpedo, an initial focus of suspicion.

The New York Times

While not an initial focus of this study, we now include substantial new data, analysis and discussion to address this.

eLife

The early virus host interactions following sexual exposure to HIV have been characterized most extensively in models of the female genital tract, and these studies describe rapid diffusion and penetration of the virus through the vaginal epithelium, followed by the formation of an initial focus of infected cells in submucosal tissues (Carias et al. 2013).

Alcohol research : current reviews

An initial focus of research when it began in earnest in the early 1990s was the rare tumor cells found in the bone marrow at the time of diagnosis, long before metastasis was evident [ 8, 9].

Genome Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The £3bn ECO scheme, whose costs are passed on to consumer bills, saved only around 30% of the carbon emissions of previous programmes, partly because of an initial focus on "harder to treat" homes which cost more to make efficient.

The Guardian

A two-pronged approach for completion by 2020 could progress by a detailed design and demonstration of a 100 t/year pyroprocessing facility for conversion of spent oxide fuel from light-water reactors3 into metal fuel for fast reactors, followed by construction of a prototype PRISM as a commercial-scale demonstration plant, with an initial focus on secure disposition of separated plutonium stocks.

Sustainable Materials and Technologies

A feasible approach to getting this information to communities is to reach households through their children, with an initial focus on older children of high-school age.

Global Health Action

From an initial focus on this tiny scrap of suddenly desirable land, makers Hugo Berkeley and Osvalde Lewat gradually expanded their film into a wide-ranging and thorough and – as far as my socioeconomically and geopolitically relatively untutored mind and eye could tell - unbiased examination of the unfolding problem of who owns Africa.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

ThingThing, a Barcelona-based startup, launched its third party iOS keyboard app over a year ago, with an initial focus on smoothing the pain of app switching by letting users do more within the keyboard itself by integrating with a variety of third party services.

TechCrunch

The company is known for its strict qualification requirements for refinancing packages and with an initial focus on the high end of student lending (servicing only 20 — mostly ivy league — colleges and universities at the time of its launch), CommonBond has become a nascent force in the student loan refinancing business.

TechCrunch

It is likely an initial focus on the key sectors of health, education, defense and local government would be more feasible and effective, as it is through these sectors that key determinants can be addressed and new infections prevented, as also recognized in a World Bank evaluation report (65).

Global Health Action

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In reports or analyses, "an initial focus of" can be used to highlight the shift in priorities or direction, demonstrating how the emphasis has evolved over time.

Common error

Avoid using "an initial focus of" when describing a long-term, unchanging priority. This phrase implies a starting point that may evolve, so it's unsuitable for describing constant, overarching goals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an initial focus of" functions as a prepositional phrase, often introducing what is being primarily examined or addressed at the commencement of a project or study. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an initial focus of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to introduce the starting point or primary area of attention in a discussion, project, or study. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions effectively to delineate scope and direction. While appearing in various contexts, including scientific and news media sources, it is particularly useful in formal and professional settings. Although "an initial focus of" is not extremely frequent, understanding its function and appropriate use ensures clarity and precision in writing. When clarity and precision matter, using this expression it's always a smart choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a primary emphasis on

This alternative replaces "focus" with "emphasis", highlighting the importance given to something at the beginning.

a starting point for

This alternative emphasizes the beginning or origin of an activity or discussion.

the preliminary focus on

Adding "preliminary" reinforces the early stage of the focus.

the early emphasis on

Similar to "preliminary focus", this highlights the temporal aspect of the emphasis.

an initial area of attention

This phrase substitutes "focus" with "area of attention", broadening the scope slightly.

the original intent of

This alternative centers on the original purpose or intention behind something.

the initial objective of

Replacing "focus" with "objective" emphasizes the goal-oriented aspect.

a nascent concentration on

"Nascent" highlights the emerging or developing aspect of the concentration.

the primary concern at first

This phrase emphasizes the main concern at the beginning of a process or project.

an early priority for

This alternative underscores the prioritization of something at the beginning.

FAQs

How do I use "an initial focus of" in a sentence?

Use "an initial focus of" to specify the primary area of attention or concentration at the beginning of a project, study, or discussion. For example, "The initial focus of the research will be on understanding the impact of climate change".

What can I say instead of "an initial focus of"?

You can use alternatives like "a primary emphasis on", "a starting point for", or "the preliminary focus on" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the initial focus was on" instead of "an initial focus of"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they function differently. "An initial focus of" is typically followed by a noun phrase, while "the initial focus was on" is followed by the subject or topic that was emphasized.

What's the difference between "an initial focus of" and "a main focus of"?

"A main focus of" describes a central area of attention that may persist throughout a project or study, while "an initial focus of" highlights the starting point, suggesting that the focus may shift later.