disproportionate focus

USAGE SUMMARY

"disproportionate focus" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to describe when a person, organization, or nation focuses too much on one particular issue or idea, usually to the detriment of other issues or ideas. For example, a government may have a disproportionate focus on the economy, sacrificing social justice in the process.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

"However, I.S.S.'s disproportionate focus on these issues is misguided and a disservice to our stockholders.

The New York Times

Second, there's the disproportionate focus on what's "extreme" about his specific position on the legal issue.

The New York Times

"ISS's disproportionate focus on News of the World is misguided," the report said.

The New York Times

The figures betray a sense of the country's disproportionate focus on the influx of migrants.

The Guardian

This sentiment has been expressed particularly by African leaders due to the disproportionate focus on their nations.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We cannot have a disproportionate focus on business travelers at the expense of leisure passengers," he added.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Despite widespread recognition that assessments of vulnerability are essential to help design effective strategies for risk reduction to natural hazards, for volcanic risk, there remains disproportionate research focus on assessment of the hazard (Sword-Daniels 2011).

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Giustozzi said he did not believe the high-profile strikes against ISIS-K targets reflected a disproportionate U.S. focus on the terror group.

Vice

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of three forms of 'brain drain', namely the outmigration, public versus private sector and disproportionate career focus on HIV among Ugandan health workers in the era of major donor funding for HIV by tracking graduates from a public Ugandan medical school in a case study.

BMJ Open

Disproportionate coverage focuses instead on what they may or may not get wrong, which, by any objective measure, pales in comparison to what they get right.

Huffington Post

As women of color, we often feel the need to prove our intellect and capability, thus focusing putting a disproportionate amount of focus on performance forgetting that image and exposure are equally important.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "disproportionate focus", ensure that you clearly articulate what other areas are being neglected as a result. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that there's a "disproportionate focus" without explaining the negative impact or what is being overlooked. Providing this context makes your statement more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disproportionate focus" functions as a noun phrase, where "disproportionate" modifies the noun "focus". It typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence, describing an imbalance or skew in attention or emphasis. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "disproportionate focus" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe an imbalance in attention or emphasis. Ludwig AI validates this assessment. It frequently appears in News & Media and Scientific contexts, often indicating a critical perspective on resource allocation or prioritization. Alternatives like "undue emphasis" or "skewed attention" can provide similar meanings. When using "disproportionate focus", ensure you clarify what is being neglected as a result. This makes your writing more persuasive and informative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue emphasis

Changes the adjective to 'undue', indicating an excessive amount of importance placed on something.

skewed attention

Replaces 'focus' with 'attention' and 'disproportionate' with 'skewed', suggesting a biased or distorted allocation of attention.

excessive concentration

Substitutes 'focus' with 'concentration' and 'disproportionate' with 'excessive', highlighting an overabundance of concentration on a specific area.

imbalanced priority

Replaces 'focus' with 'priority' and 'disproportionate' with 'imbalanced', emphasizing an unequal distribution of importance.

overemphasis

A single-word alternative that means placing too much emphasis on something.

lopsided attention

Uses 'lopsided' to describe the unequal distribution of attention.

uneven distribution of attention

Rephrases the concept to highlight the lack of evenness in the distribution of attention.

selective attention

Implies that attention is being directed towards certain areas while neglecting others.

excessive weight

Substitutes 'focus' with 'weight', indicating that too much importance is being given to something.

undeserved spotlight

Suggests that the level of attention is not justified or warranted.

FAQs

How can I use "disproportionate focus" in a sentence?

You can use "disproportionate focus" to describe situations where too much attention is given to one aspect while neglecting others. For example, "The media's "disproportionate focus" on celebrity gossip distracts from important social issues."

What are some alternatives to saying "disproportionate focus"?

Alternatives include "undue emphasis", "skewed attention", or "excessive concentration". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "disproportionate focus on" or "disproportionate focus in"?

"Disproportionate focus on" is generally preferred when indicating the subject or area receiving the excessive attention. "Disproportionate focus in" is less common but can be used to specify a particular context or domain.

What's the difference between "disproportionate focus" and "selective attention"?

"Disproportionate focus" implies an imbalance in attention allocation, while "selective attention" suggests a deliberate choice to focus on certain things and ignore others. The former may be unintentional, whereas the latter is often intentional.