divert focus

USAGE SUMMARY

"divert focus" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to change or shift attention or concentration away from a particular topic or task. Example: The speaker's jokes were not well received by the audience, and he quickly tried to divert focus to more serious matters.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Management of all of these ancillary pressures can potentially divert focus from primary research activities.

Cloud Computing in Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

We don't want to divert focus from the bride, do we?" As for his sporting future, who knows?

The Guardian - Sport

"Ban treaty negotiations will not reduce nuclear weapons, and have the potential to divert focus and further divide countries on disarmament.

The Guardian

The NGA released a report last month to address arguments they hear against parent governors, including that some can be disruptive and divert focus from the issues at hand.

The Guardian

But a prolonged bout of economic weakness will sap the budget and divert focus from such far-reaching reform.All told, the contours of the business cycle may be the main influence on whether 2008 proves a big turning-point for economic policy.

The Economist

The Garnetts had aimed high and delivered hype, their enemies said; now they were trying to divert focus from their problems — and they weren't above using Katrina's looks to do it.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Not that Spieth has diverted focus entirely from the Tour Championship, which capped off his stunning 2015 season.

The Guardian - Sport

Industry representatives used certain tactics to oppose the fat tax: threatening lawsuits, predicting welfare losses, casting doubt on evidence, diverting focus and requesting postponement.

Health Policy

That said, the GOI argued that the international community not become bogged down on the Tehran Research Reactor TRRR) and Qom, thereby diverting focus from TEL AVIV 00002500 002 OF 002 the bigger issue of Iran's nuclear program.

The Guardian

The lawsuits are "baseless and misdirected, diverting focus away from the real issue of how we as a nation are going to extend health coverage to all Americans," said Alicia Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the American Hospital Association, a trade group in Washington.

The New York Times

It diverts focus away from learning how not to fail and places it on lessons to be learned from war wounds.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "divert focus", ensure that the new focus is clearly defined to avoid confusion. For instance, instead of just saying "divert focus", specify where the focus is being diverted to.

Common error

Avoid using "divert focus" when the intent is to eliminate focus entirely. The phrase implies a shift, not a complete cessation of attention. Instead use alternatives like "eliminate focus" or "remove the emphasis".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "divert focus" functions as a verb phrase, where "divert" acts as a transitive verb requiring an object (focus). Ludwig AI indicates the phrase follows standard grammar rules and provides examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Science & Research

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "divert focus" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that signifies shifting attention away from a particular subject. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable across various contexts, including news, science, and business. The analysis reveals that while it appears in formal settings, it maintains a neutral register. Alternatives such as "redirect attention" and "shift the spotlight" offer similar meanings. When using "divert focus", ensure clarity in the new direction of attention to avoid confusion. Common errors involve using it to mean eliminating focus altogether, rather than redirecting it. High-quality sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

redirect attention

Changes "focus" to "attention" and "divert" to "redirect", emphasizing a shift in where attention is directed.

shift the spotlight

Replaces "divert" with "shift" and "focus" with "spotlight", creating a more visual metaphor for changing attention.

draw attention away

Uses a more descriptive approach, indicating the action of pulling attention from something.

deflect interest

Substitutes "divert" with "deflect" and "focus" with "interest", implying a redirection of curiosity or concern.

draw focus elsewhere

Similar to drawing attention away, but specifies that the focus is being moved to a different location.

take the spotlight off

Emphasizes the removal of attention from a particular subject.

distract from the issue

Highlights the use of distraction to move attention away from a problem or topic.

re-channel efforts

Focuses on redirecting efforts, rather than attention, suggesting a shift in resources or energy.

reorient the discussion

Emphasizes changing the direction of a conversation or debate.

turn the tide

Uses a metaphorical expression to suggest a change in momentum or emphasis.

FAQs

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

You can use "divert focus" to describe shifting attention away from something, such as "The magician used illusions to divert focus from his sleight of hand."

What are some alternatives to "divert focus"?

Some alternatives include "redirect attention", "shift the spotlight", or "draw attention away".

Is "divert focus" formal or informal?

"Divert focus" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the specific situation.

What is the difference between "divert focus" and "deflect attention"?

"Divert focus" generally implies shifting attention to something else, while "deflect attention" suggests preventing attention from reaching a particular target, often in a defensive manner.