diminishing concentration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "diminishing concentration" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a decrease in focus or attention over time, often in contexts related to work, study, or mental fatigue. Example: "After several hours of studying, I noticed my diminishing concentration made it difficult to retain information."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Back in the real world, the competition grows between Roxie and Velma (Catherine Zeta-Jones) for the public's attention and constantly diminishing concentration.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The most concentrated clusters were identified as Class I, with successively diminishing concentrations ranging to Class XII.

Wikipedia

Additional sites were measured to further investigate lateral transport, and diminishing concentrations of OA-d34 were observed up to 8 cm from the treatment site.

Experimental Dermatology

In brief, different concentrations of test compound were prepared by serial dilution and 20 μl of each concentration was added to the rows of a 96-well microtitre plate in diminishing concentrations.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Immunogenicity against therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (especially against infliximab and adalimumab) has been shown to be clinically important: it is associated with shorter response duration because of diminishing concentrations in the blood and with infusion reactions [ 72].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

n-3 LC-PUFAs are chemically unstable, so that marine oils rapidly oxidize during storage to a complex chemical soup of lipid peroxides, secondary oxidation products, and diminishing concentrations of unoxidized fatty acids.

BioMed Research International

Immunogenicity against these antibodies has been shown to be clinically important: it is associated with shorter response duration because of diminishing concentrations in the blood and with infusion reactions.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Greater than 50%% of RES is bioavailable in rodents and humans shortly after ingestion, but RES then undergoes rapid metabolism in the liver, as well as enterohepatic cycling where the metabolized RES is reabsorbed in the intestine further diminishing concentrations in the blood [ 46, 47].

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

The patient's severe fever, sweats, headaches, anorexia, fatigue, and diminished concentration and memory continued.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

4 Those with PoTS frequently present with palpitations, fatigue, light-headedness, exercise intolerance, nausea, diminished concentration, tremulousness, syncope and presyncope.

BMJ Open

Mental wellbeing outcomes, such as disturbed sleep, increased anxiety/stress, and diminished concentration, were not significantly different between the groups (table 2).

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the effects of a long or demanding task, use "diminishing concentration" to highlight the progressive reduction in focus as time passes. For example: "After hours of coding, the programmer experienced a "diminishing concentration" which led to errors."

Common error

While "diminishing concentration" is generally acceptable, it can sound somewhat informal in highly academic or technical writing. In such contexts, consider using more precise or technical terms like "reduced cognitive function" or "declining attentional capacity" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "diminishing concentration" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "diminishing" modifies the noun "concentration". It typically describes a state of reduced or declining ability to focus. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

16%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "diminishing concentration" effectively describes a decline in the ability to focus, suitable for various contexts from scientific to general use. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While grammatically sound and commonly used, more technical alternatives like "reduced cognitive function" may be preferred in highly specialized academic settings. Common causes for this decline include fatigue and prolonged task engagement. Alternatives such as "decreasing focus" or "declining attention span" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreasing focus

Replaces "concentration" with "focus", a slightly more general term for mental attention.

declining attention span

Specifies the time aspect of the reduction in focus.

waning focus

Uses "waning" to emphasize the gradual decrease in focus.

reduced attentiveness

Replaces "concentration" with "attentiveness", highlighting the quality of being attentive.

fading focus

Emphasizes the gradual disappearance of focus.

dwindling attention

Uses "dwindling" to suggest a progressive reduction in attention.

decreasing mental acuity

Focuses on the sharpness and clarity of thought that is diminishing.

lessened focus

A more straightforward and direct way to express a decrease in focus.

impaired focus

Indicates that the ability to concentrate is weakened or damaged.

reduced cognitive focus

Highlights the cognitive aspect of focus that is being reduced.

FAQs

How can I use "diminishing concentration" in a sentence?

You can use "diminishing concentration" to describe a gradual decline in focus. For example: "The student's "diminishing concentration" made it difficult to complete the exam."

What are some alternatives to "diminishing concentration"?

Alternatives include "decreasing focus", "declining attention span", or "waning focus" depending on the context.

Is "diminishing concentration" formal or informal?

"Diminishing concentration" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but more precise terms might be preferred in highly technical or academic writing.

What causes "diminishing concentration"?

"Diminishing concentration" can be caused by various factors, including fatigue, stress, lack of sleep, or prolonged exposure to demanding tasks.