competing attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "competing attention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where multiple stimuli or tasks are vying for someone's focus or concentration. Example: "In today's digital age, social media platforms are constantly competing for our attention, making it difficult to concentrate on a single task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Independent bookshops have had their fair share of setbacks over the decades, from the competing attention for book readers from radio or television to the challenge posed by the emergence of chain stores that offer cheaper prices.

The Economist

This is partly because of low awareness of the health implications of these exposures and competing attention from infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's also competing for attention in a world where people's attention has many, many destinations.

The New York Times - Books

Will you and he be competing for attention?

The New York Times - Magazine

Fifteen other companies will be competing for attention this week.

The New York Times - Arts

Beyond your conscious goals, there are many unconscious goals also competing for attention.

Harvard University

Imagine competing for attention in the same time zone as the Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, Braves and Rays.

The New York Times

But with Alfred Hitchcock's genius competing for attention, was anyone really listening to the orchestra?

The New York Times - Arts

He quickly said the obvious cause is sibling rivalry, with my daughters competing for attention.

The New York Times

Is it the sheer number of artists competing for attention in today's Britain?

The Guardian

Rubin concludes that the new challenge is competing for attention.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about cognitive overload, use "competing attention" to highlight how multiple stimuli are simultaneously demanding someone's focus. This phrase is particularly effective when discussing distractions in environments like digital platforms or busy workplaces.

Common error

Avoid using "competing attention" and "divided attention" interchangeably without considering the nuance. "Competing attention" emphasizes the struggle for focus, while "divided attention" simply describes the state of attention being split among multiple tasks. Make sure the context reflects this subtle difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "competing attention" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "competing" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "attention". It describes a situation where multiple demands are vying for someone's focus. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "competing attention" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations where multiple elements vie for one's focus. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable, albeit relatively rare in occurrence. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, the phrase serves to highlight the cognitive challenges posed by distractions. When using this phrase, it's important to differentiate it from similar terms like "divided attention", focusing on the struggle and competition for focus it implies. Overall, "competing attention" provides a precise way to discuss the impact of distractions in various environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divided focus

Replaces "attention" with "focus" and "competing" with "divided", emphasizing the split nature of attention.

contending priorities

Shifts the focus to priorities instead of attention, suggesting a struggle between different tasks or goals.

conflicting demands

Highlights the demanding nature of the elements competing for attention, implying a sense of pressure or strain.

rivaling interests

Emphasizes the competitive aspect of different interests seeking attention.

divergent stimuli

Uses a more technical term "stimuli" to refer to the elements competing for attention, suggesting a scientific or analytical context.

multiple distractions

Focuses on the distracting effect of elements competing for attention.

shared awareness

Highlights how the attentional focus is being shared.

overlapping interests

Highlights how the attentional focus is covering multiple items.

simultaneous demands

Emphasizes how the attentional focus is covering multiple simultaneous demands.

splitting awareness

Highlights how the attentional focus is being split.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "competing attention" in a sentence?

Use "competing attention" to describe situations where multiple stimuli or tasks are vying for someone's focus. For instance, "In a modern office, employees often struggle with the "competing attention" from emails, meetings, and urgent requests."

What are some alternative phrases for "competing attention"?

You can use alternatives like "divided focus", "conflicting demands", or "contending priorities" depending on the specific context you want to emphasize.

Is "competing attention" grammatically correct?

Yes, "competing attention" is grammatically correct. It consists of the adjective "competing" modifying the noun "attention", forming a valid and understandable phrase.

In what contexts is "competing attention" most commonly used?

"Competing attention" is commonly used in contexts discussing cognitive psychology, productivity, and the impact of distractions in various environments, such as workplaces, schools, and digital platforms. It highlights the challenge of maintaining focus when faced with multiple simultaneous demands.