devote some listening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devote some listening" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize the act of dedicating time or attention to listening, but it is not commonly used. Example: "To truly understand the speaker's message, you need to devote some listening to their words."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What are you planning to devote some listening time to this week?

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A separate section for longer stories is also available, for when you have more time to devote to listening.

TechCrunch

It's ultimately up to you how much time to devote to listening, how much time to devote to other efforts to learn the language, and how much time to devote to your language overall.

WikiHow

He will also devote some time to philanthropic ventures.

Forbes

And devote some time every week to it.

Huffington Post

The entire Dharma Talk was a living and communal expression of Suzuki-roshi's admonition: "Moment after moment, completely devote yourself to listening to your inner voice".**.**

Huffington Post

However, at UMaine, some of the classes have greater than 76% of the student codes devoted to listening.

CBE Life Sciences Education

With his wife, Hester Diamond, he held private salons devoted to listening and discussion.

The New York Times - Arts

It had partaken of the irony and inevitability of dramatic tragedy, compounded by the twenty-plus years that Walt had then devoted to listening to Fran, leavened only by the tenderness of his solicitude toward her.

The New Yorker

But, as many of them have said, the most inspired and inspiring hours spent in his classroom were devoted to listening to him share experiences from his own life.

The New York Times - Books

BT is aiming to create a concert style format and wants to attract an audience devoted to listening to the music attentively.  .

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to encourage someone to listen attentively, use phrases like "spend time listening" or "dedicate time to listen" instead of the less common and somewhat awkward phrase "devote some listening".

Common error

Avoid using "devote some listening" in formal writing. It can sound unnatural. Opt for more standard expressions to ensure clarity and professionalism in your communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote some listening" functions as a verb phrase intended to express the action of dedicating attention to the act of listening. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this is not standard written English and may sound awkward. Example from Ludwig: "What are you planning to devote some listening time to this week?"

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "devote some listening" aims to convey the idea of dedicating time and attention to listening, it is considered grammatically awkward and not commonly used in standard English, as pointed out by Ludwig AI. More common and natural-sounding alternatives include "dedicate time to listen" or "spend time listening". The phrase appears across various contexts such as News & Media, Wiki, and Science, suggesting a neutral register. When writing, it's best to opt for the more common alternatives to ensure clarity and better communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spend time listening

Uses a more direct and common phrasing to indicate the allocation of time to listening.

make time to listen

Highlights the effort required to find or create time for listening.

dedicate time to listen

Replaces "devote some" with the more common "dedicate time" and simplifies the phrase.

reserve time for listening

Similar to "set aside", but emphasizes the act of keeping time free from other commitments.

set aside time for listening

Suggests a deliberate act of reserving time specifically for listening.

allocate time for listening

Emphasizes the formal assignment of time for the purpose of listening.

invest time in listening

Presents listening as an investment of time, implying a return or benefit.

allot time to listening

Implies the time is assigned as part of a larger plan or schedule.

give listening your time

Inverts the structure for a slightly more emphatic way to encourage someone to listen.

earmark time for listening

Uses a more specific term, "earmark", suggesting that the time is specifically designated for listening.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "devote some listening"?

Consider using alternatives like "dedicate time to listen" or "spend time listening" which are more common and natural-sounding.

Is "devote some listening" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "devote some listening" is an awkward phrasing. It's better to use more common alternatives to ensure clarity and better flow.

When is it appropriate to use "devote some listening"?

Due to its uncommon usage and somewhat awkward sound, it's best to avoid "devote some listening" in formal or professional contexts. More common alternatives are preferred.

What does it mean to "devote time to listen"?

To "devote time to listen" means to dedicate or allocate a specific amount of time for the purpose of listening attentively.