devote their attention

USAGE SUMMARY

"devote their attention" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
Example: The students were asked to devote their attention to the lesson and take notes for the upcoming exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The majority of researchers devote their attention to male shoppers' typologies which are usually related to shopping orientation.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Most administration is centralised elsewhere, so staff at the clinic devote their attention to treatment.This seems to work.

The Economist

The tech giants need to fully grasp what's happening here, and devote their attention and plentiful resources to addressing it.

The Washington Post

This year's Shakespeare Birthday Marathon, a free event at Symphony Space, will also celebrate the New York institutions that devote their attention to keeping his name alive.

The New York Times

Nick Trotta, the manager of library licensing for Major League Baseball Productions, said archivists would not be able to devote their attention to the clip until after the World Series, but did not dismiss Olbermann and Shieber.

The New York Times

Many observers fear that politicians will now devote their attention to electioneering rather than the economic and political reforms Serbia needs to recover from a decade of wars, international isolation and impoverishment under Mr. Milosevic.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

No fewer than sixty-four distinct generic types (many of them with numerous species) of these parasites are recognised as infesting birds, and the author has taken soecial pains to ascertain so far as possible the particular groups of birds to which these various genera respectively devote their attentions.

Nature

THEY came for the Moon, and for the first three orbits it was to the Moon that the astronauts of Apollo 8 devoted their attention.

The New York Times

A cowboy, an astronaut, a stuntman, a fireman, a policeman, whatever.' " Working in Murray's living room, the four men at first devoted their attention to fundamentals, writing software to determine how objects would behave in a theoretical game space.

The New Yorker

At their annual meeting last week in Naples, Fla., N.H.L. general managers devoted their attention to two major issues: the longstanding debate over fighting, and whether hits to the head should be made illegal.

The New York Times - Sports

This sets up the popular perception that women members of parliament will not rock the boat, devoting their attention to so-called women's issues, such as calling for better health and social services.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "devote their attention", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the devoting and to what they are dedicating their focus. For example, "Scientists should "devote their attention" to solving climate change" clarifies the actors and the object of their attention.

Common error

Avoid overusing "devote their attention" when simpler alternatives like "focus on" or "concentrate on" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote their attention" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken by a group or entity to focus their efforts on a particular subject or task. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Academia

17%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devote their attention" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys a focused dedication of effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and applicable across various writing styles. The analysis reveals its prevalent usage in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While "devote their attention" is a valid choice, considering simpler alternatives like "focus" or "concentrate" can enhance clarity and prevent wordiness. Overall, it’s a reliable and effective phrase when used appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus their efforts

Changes the verb from "devote" to "focus", emphasizing concentration.

direct their efforts

Similar to "focus their efforts" but emphasizes guidance and direction.

concentrate their energy

Replaces "attention" with "energy", highlighting the effort involved.

channel their focus

Emphasizes directing focus towards a specific target or goal.

dedicate their time

Substitutes "attention" with "time", focusing on the time commitment.

invest their time

Focuses on the investment aspect of time and effort.

apply their minds

Uses a more idiomatic expression for mental engagement.

turn their focus

Emphasizes the act of redirecting focus.

lend their attention

A more formal and polite way of expressing attention giving.

give their consideration

Highlights thoughtfulness and careful evaluation.

FAQs

How can I use "devote their attention" in a sentence?

The phrase "devote their attention" is used to describe the act of dedicating focus or effort towards a specific subject or task. For example, "Researchers should "devote their attention" to finding a cure" or "The company decided to "devote their attention" to improving customer service."

What are some alternatives to "devote their attention"?

Alternatives to "devote their attention" include "focus their efforts", "concentrate their energy", or "dedicate their time". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "devote their attention to" or "devote attention to"?

The phrase "devote their attention to" is grammatically correct when referring to a specific group or entity dedicating their focus. "Devote attention to" is more general and might be used when the actor is unspecified.

What does it mean to "devote their attention"?

To "devote their attention" means to dedicate time, effort, and focus towards something. It implies a deliberate and significant commitment of mental resources to a particular subject or task.