direct our attention

USAGE SUMMARY

"direct our attention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone or something that is focusing their attention on a particular subject. For example, "The speaker began to direct our attention towards the importance of conservation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

In the midst of terrible loss, we still have choices about where to direct our attention.

The New York Times

Diebenkorn used drawing to create a parallel commentary on and within the painting, a way to "talk back," signal second thoughts or direct our attention.

The New York Times - Arts

It's important to keep in mind who really is in the most trouble and to direct our attention to assisting those people.

The Guardian - Music

Our political elites have become adept at vilifying parts of our society as a tool to direct our attention away from their own failings.

The Guardian

But everyone who has been to school or who has navigated with a map knows how they direct our attention and shape our experience – and memory – of reality.

The Guardian

In everyday life, mindfulness is about learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, rather than "living in our heads".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That is where we should direct our attention, to the collapse within the human being which these actions represent, and which makes them possible.

The New Yorker

Some filmmakers guide our attention to faces; others direct our attention to postures and gestures or even away from faces toward other expressive elements.

The New York Times

Instead of calling on consumers to abstain from all overfished species, we should direct our attention at fisheries that consistently take more fish than can be naturally replaced.

The New York Times

I guess I've made it clear that Rory was trying to direct our attention to what was interesting about a search for the pink-headed duck, more than to the duck itself.

The New Yorker

Recently I've covered Striptease, a puzzle game by Stephen Lavelle that addresses how we look at women, objectification, and issues of sexual assault, by using puzzle mechanics to direct our attention to body parts.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "direct our attention" when you want to emphasize a conscious and deliberate shift in focus. For instance, "Let's direct our attention to the key performance indicators."

Common error

Avoid using "direct our attention" in passive constructions where the agent doing the directing is unclear. For example, instead of "Our attention should be directed", specify who should "direct our attention".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "direct our attention" functions as a directive. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to indicate that focus should be placed on a specific area. Examples show it used in contexts where individuals or groups are encouraged to concentrate on particular subjects or tasks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "direct our attention" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that serves to guide focus and encourage consideration. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is applicable across diverse contexts, prominently in news, media, and scientific domains. While alternatives like "focus our attention" or "turn our attention" exist, "direct our attention" is particularly effective when emphasizing a conscious redirection. When writing, avoid passive constructions to maintain clarity and impact. The phrase's versatility and prevalence in authoritative sources underscore its reliability and appropriateness in various communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus our attention

Replaces "direct" with "focus", emphasizing concentration.

turn our attention

Uses "turn" instead of "direct", suggesting a shift in focus.

give our attention

A more straightforward and simple way of expressing focus.

concentrate our efforts

Shifts the focus to efforts rather than just attention, implying action.

address our minds

Uses "address" to indicate a more formal and deliberate focus.

apply our minds

Emphasizes mental engagement and effort.

center our thoughts

Highlights the centering of thoughts on a particular subject.

dedicate our time

Highlights the allocation of time and resources.

zero in on

Emphasizes pinpoint accuracy and focus on a specific target.

set our sights on

Implies aiming or targeting something specific.

FAQs

How can I use "direct our attention" in a sentence?

You can use "direct our attention" to indicate a shift in focus. For example, "We should direct our attention to solving this problem" or "The speaker directed our attention to the main points of the presentation".

What are some alternatives to "direct our attention"?

You can use alternatives such as "focus our attention", "turn our attention", or "concentrate our efforts" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "direct our attention" or "focus our attention"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and interchangeable. "Direct our attention" implies a deliberate redirection, while "focus our attention" suggests concentrating on something already present. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What does "direct our attention" mean?

"Direct our attention" means to guide or channel our focus towards a specific subject, issue, or task. It suggests a conscious effort to concentrate on something.