concentrate on the essentials

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "concentrate on the essentials" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when advising someone to focus on the most important aspects of a task or situation. Example: "In order to improve productivity, we need to concentrate on the essentials and eliminate any distractions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Mr. Dumais suggested that they concentrate on the essentials and save things like Mr. Buck's office shelving for later.

The New York Times

"I think you can't teach anyone to be an artist," continued Machado, "but I think you can have them concentrate on the essentials of art.

Columbia University

Perhaps the surgeon's ability to slash out the superfluous and concentrate on the essentials has moved here from scalpel to pen.

The New York Times - Health

Every time No. 25 came to the plate, like a lion tamer or a horse whisperer, he would concentrate on the essentials.

The New York Times - Sports

Far from the social crowd on the green, players can concentrate on the essentials: consistency of their shots and tweaking their tempo so their down swing is much faster than their backswing.

The New York Times

With so little time allowed, we needed to concentrate on the essentials.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And yet Obama has precisely the temperament to shut out the noise when necessary and concentrate on the essential.

The New Yorker

She adds: "Technology is a tool that helps dealing with scarce resources of translators, by speeding up their work and allowing them to concentrate on the essential.

The Guardian

My presentation differs in secondary details from Burke's to concentrate on the essential issues.

SEP

In contrast the chapters on heart, liver, and pancreas transplantation, while omitting fine points of suture technique, concentrate on the essential principles and safeguards.

Springer

Perhaps it is assumed that normally the pupil will know in advance what is right and wrong, so Gorgias will not have to teach him that, and can concentrate on the essential skill of persuasion.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In project management, it's helpful to "concentrate on the essentials" by identifying the critical path activities. This ensures that you meet deadlines without unnecessary delays.

Common error

Avoid using "concentrate on the essentials" as an excuse to neglect crucial secondary aspects. While focusing on what truly matters is important, make sure that the essential elements are not at the expense of other important details.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "concentrate on the essentials" functions as an imperative, advising someone to focus specifically on the most important elements of a task or situation. As supported by Ludwig, it emphasizes prioritizing key aspects over less significant details.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "concentrate on the essentials" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that advises focusing on the most important aspects of a task or situation. As confirmed by Ludwig, its register is neutral, making it suitable for a variety of contexts including news, science, and general writing. While not extremely frequent, it's a valuable phrase for promoting efficiency and effectiveness. When using this phrase, be mindful not to neglect crucial secondary aspects while prioritizing what truly matters. Remember that phrases such as "focus on what matters most" or "prioritize key aspects", can serve as useful alternatives, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus on what matters most

Emphasizes importance and relevance.

prioritize key aspects

Highlights the act of ranking by importance.

emphasize the core elements

Stresses fundamental components.

zero in on the necessities

Implies precise and direct focus.

concentrate on the bare minimum

Focuses on the absolute necessities.

focus on the critical points

Highlights the most important points.

emphasize the vital details

Stresses details that are indispensable.

focus on the rudiments

Highlights the basic principles.

concentrate on the nuts and bolts

Focuses on the practical basics.

prioritize essential items

Highlights only the essential and important things.

FAQs

How can I use "concentrate on the essentials" in a sentence?

You can use "concentrate on the essentials" to advise focusing on the most important aspects of a situation, such as "To complete the project on time, we must "concentrate on the essentials" and avoid distractions."

What are some alternatives to "concentrate on the essentials"?

Alternatives include "focus on what matters most", "prioritize key aspects", or "emphasize the core elements", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "concentrate on the essentials" or to address all aspects of a problem?

While addressing all aspects is ideal, it's often more efficient to "concentrate on the essentials", especially when resources or time are limited. This ensures critical elements are handled effectively.

What does it mean to "concentrate on the essentials" in project management?

In project management, to "concentrate on the essentials" means to focus on the tasks and milestones that are critical for the project's success, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.