an overall focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overall focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a general emphasis or concentration on a particular subject or theme. Example: "The report provides an overall focus on the impact of climate change on global agriculture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"You can use these tools to kind of get an overall focus, but you've got to be careful and you've got to get a balance in there".

The New York Times

Mr. Solomon said the manners class is part of an overall focus to support character education, which he called "a piece of a bigger pie".

The New York Times

Flick.IM has broader ambitions than this IM client, with an overall focus on real-time social networking.

TechCrunch

"There would have to be an overall focus on safety and there would be a psychological barrier to get over to win the public's trust.

BBC

Exploring the impact of stress reducing interventions for ICU clinicians requires further investigation as part of an overall focus in promoting a healthy work environment in the ICU.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

The new integrated development environment (IDE) features include performance tools for power consumption, asynchronous calls for debugging and an overall focus on the connected app.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Suffice it to say that previous publications [ 6], and our ongoing studies, do suggest that emerging market firms, as a group, have a greater overall focus on addressing developing-world diseases than their major global competitors.

Health Research Policy and Systems

In a study similar to that carried out by Boston Children's Hospital, researchers found that encouraging children to engage in activities that made use of EEG led to an improvement in overall focus and concentration.

BBC

In fairness to Dr. McCance-Katz, at this point, we only have a few written articles and interviews with which to make an assessment of her overall focus on mental health.

HuffPost

Vocabulary building may not seem tied to focus necessarily, but the ability to absorb new information regularly is an important part of overall focus and mental stamina.

WikiHow

With each day highlighting a different theme, the overall focus was on how Washington works for business in areas including corporate tax policy, financial market reform, healthcare reform, and climate change.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an overall focus", ensure it's followed by a clear articulation of what that focus entails to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the word 'focus' multiple times in the same sentence or paragraph. Vary your language with synonyms like 'emphasis', 'theme', or 'objective' for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overall focus" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It highlights the primary area of attention or main objective, aligning with Ludwig's analysis of its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overall focus" is a versatile noun phrase used to denote the main theme or objective. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While frequent in news, science, and formal business settings, it's less common in encyclopedic or wiki-based content. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what the focus entails and avoid overuse of the word "focus" itself. Consider alternatives like "general emphasis" or "key priority" to enhance readability and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general emphasis

Replaces "overall focus" with a more common term, focusing on the general nature of the emphasis.

a comprehensive approach

Shifts the focus to a complete and thorough method, rather than a specific point of emphasis.

a central theme

Highlights the main idea or subject that something revolves around.

a primary objective

Emphasizes the main goal or aim that is being pursued.

a key priority

Focuses on the most important element or concern.

a dominant aspect

Highlights the most prominent feature or characteristic.

a unifying principle

Points to the core belief or idea that ties everything together.

a strategic direction

Indicates the planned path or course of action.

a guiding vision

Emphasizes the long-term objective that influences decisions and actions.

a prevailing concern

Focuses on the widespread worry or issue that is currently dominant.

FAQs

How can I use "an overall focus" in a sentence?

You can use "an overall focus" to describe the main theme or objective of a project, discussion, or strategy. For example, "The conference had "a central theme" of sustainable development".

What are some alternatives to "an overall focus"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a general emphasis", "a key priority", or "a comprehensive approach" as alternatives to "an overall focus".

Is it better to say "overall focus" or "general focus"?

Both "overall focus" and "general focus" are acceptable. "Overall focus" implies a comprehensive view, while "general focus" suggests a broad area of attention. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "an overall focus" typically refer to?

"An overall focus" typically refers to the primary area of attention or the main objective within a particular context, such as a project, strategy, or discussion.