devote extra attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devote extra attention" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when emphasizing the need to focus more on a particular task or detail. For example, "The teacher decided to devote extra attention to students struggling with the material." Alternative expressions include "give additional focus" and "allocate more care."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It should also devote extra attention to research that makes passwords easier to remember but harder to crack.

The New York Times

Research on the effects of improved patient participation should devote extra attention to developing unbiased designs and invest more in changing the affective behaviour of providers.

Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Although its author now lives in Paris, "Lust in Translation" devotes extra attention to American behavior, and to the advice business she calls the marriage-industrial complex.

The New York Times - Books

Omori and his crew devoted extra attention to lighting and coloring, making the forest dim with light coming through the canopy and landing on the characters with the appropriate intensity.

Wikipedia

Give extra attention to them.

WikiHow

Pay extra attention at intersections.

WikiHow

Pay extra attention to special register functions.

WikiHow

Pay extra attention to your intuition.

WikiHow

Pay extra attention to your tones.

WikiHow

If you're on a sports team, devote extra energy to planning events or extra workouts with your teammates.

WikiHow

A willingness to devote extra-ordinary resources, time and attention to a problem or piece of technical research because there is a feeling that it may lead somewhere — eventually.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to sound professional and intentional; it carries more weight than simply saying "look closely".

Common error

Avoid adding "very" or "highly" before "extra". Since "extra" already specifies an increase beyond the norm, adding more intensifiers can make the sentence clunky and less precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote extra attention" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "devote" is the action, "attention" is the direct object and "extra" serves as an attributive adjective modifying the amount. In Ludwig examples, it is frequently used to signal a reallocation of cognitive or physical resources toward a specific problem.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devote extra attention" is a versatile and sophisticated tool for any writer looking to highlight a specific area of interest. According to Ludwig AI data, it is a well-established collocation that bridges the gap between formal scientific inquiry and professional journalism. Its frequent appearance in high-authority sources like The New York Times suggests that it is a safe and effective choice for both American and British English. Whether you are advising a student to check their work or explaining a complex research methodology, this phrase provides a clear signal of intentional focus and prioritization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pay extra attention

Uses a more common verb that is interchangeable in almost all contexts

give extra attention

Slightly less formal than devote but equally common in spoken English

focus special attention

Emphasizes the concentration of effort on a specific target

dedicate additional focus

More academic and formal phrasing

allocate more care

Focuses on the distribution of resources or emotional effort

apply further scrutiny

Suggests a more critical or analytical type of attention

bestow greater consideration

Highly formal and slightly archaic in tone

direct particular interest

Shifts the focus to personal or professional engagement

commit supplementary effort

Highlights the labor involved rather than just the observation

grant added priority

Implies an organizational or administrative shift in focus

FAQs

How do I use "devote extra attention" in a sentence?

You can use it to emphasize a specific area of focus, such as: "The editor decided to devote extra attention to the introductory chapter to ensure a strong opening."

What can I say instead of "devote extra attention"?

Depending on your desired tone, you can use "<a href="/s/pay+extra+attention" target="_blank" rel="alternative">pay extra attention", "<a href="/s/give+extra+attention" target="_blank" rel="alternative">give extra attention" or "<a href="/s/focus+special+attention" target="_blank" rel="alternative">focus special attention".

Is "devote extra attention" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for academic and scientific contexts, as seen in publications like Family Practice and various BMC journals where authors use it to highlight specific research priorities.

What is the difference between "devote extra attention" and "pay extra attention"?

While both are correct, "devote extra attention" sounds slightly more deliberate and formal. "<a href="/s/pay+extra+attention" target="_blank" rel="alternative">pay extra attention" is more common in everyday instructions or warnings.