draining attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "draining attention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that consumes or diverts a person's focus or concentration, often in a negative way. Example: "The constant notifications from my phone are draining attention from my work, making it hard to concentrate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

They are designed to prevent false claims from draining attention and resources.

The New York Times

The businessman has not just determined the issues that his fellow candidates debate but had a suffocating effect on the race, draining attention from all of his rivals.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Meanwhile, his sports performances continue to drain attention (and bravado) from his peer group.

The New York Times - Sports

The two assaults have served as a show of strength, a propaganda boost for supporters of the group and have drained attention and resources from the Mosul campaign.

The Guardian

He clearly wanted Dia:Beacon to be the foundation's centerpiece forever, without having to compete with a New York City entity that would inevitably drain attention and money.

The New York Times - Magazine

In this view, a beautiful photograph drains attention from the sobering subject and turns it toward the medium itself, inviting the viewer to look "aesthetically," and thereby compromising the picture's status as a document.

The New Yorker

This fervor over local politics — and indeed it is a fervor: for every one Santorum sign on IL-13, there are at least a dozen for Jason Plummer for Illinois' Twelfth Congressional District — seems to have drained attention and excitement away from what should be Santorum's stronghold in the state.

The New Yorker

This fervor over local politics—and indeed it is a fervor: for every one Santorum sign on IL-13, there are at least a dozen for Jason Plummer for Illinois' Twelfth Congressional District seems to have drained attention and excitement away from what should be Santorum's stronghold in the state.

The New Yorker

The same goes to the circumstance game Pay high attention to the things that drain your attention of facts the most.

WikiHow

Not only does Spam put strain on computational and network resources, it also drains the attention resource of users.

Computer Communications

Instead of contributing to this interconnected, open Web world, the growing popularity of Facebook is draining it of attention, energy and posts that are in public view.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "draining attention" to emphasize the negative impact of something that is consuming focus or resources.

Common error

Avoid using "draining attention" in very informal settings. Opt for simpler phrases like "taking focus" if the situation doesn't require a strong emphasis on resource depletion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draining attention" functions as a verb phrase, typically describing an action that reduces or diverts focus from something else. Ludwig AI shows it's commonly used to depict the negative impact of distractions or competing priorities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "draining attention" effectively conveys the act of depleting or diverting focus, as validated by Ludwig AI's analysis. Its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and professional writing, make it a versatile tool for expressing concerns about resource allocation or the impact of distractions. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to use simpler alternatives in extremely informal settings. By understanding its nuances and related phrases, writers can leverage "draining attention" to precisely communicate the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diverting focus

Focus is being redirected elsewhere, similar to attention being drained.

consuming focus

Focus is being entirely used up, like attention being drained.

absorbing interest

Interest is being completely taken up, similar to attention being drained.

sapping concentration

Concentration is being gradually reduced, mirroring attention being drained.

monopolizing focus

Focus is being exclusively held, similar to attention being drained from other areas.

capturing focus

The act of capturing focus resembles draining attention.

drawing away focus

Focus is being pulled away, similar to attention being drained.

pulling focus

Focus is actively being extracted or taken, similar to attention being drained.

exhausting focus

The state of exhausting focus resembles draining attention.

depleting focus

Focus is diminishing, similarly to attention being drained.

FAQs

How can I use "draining attention" in a sentence?

You can use "draining attention" to describe something that consumes focus or resources, for example: "The constant notifications are draining attention from my work."

What are some alternatives to "draining attention"?

Consider alternatives like "diverting focus", "consuming focus", or "absorbing interest" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "draining attention"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the negative impact of something that's consuming focus, time, or resources. It is suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts, especially in news and media, science, or professional writing.

What's the difference between "draining attention" and "drawing attention"?

"Draining attention" implies a reduction or depletion of focus, while "drawing attention" means attracting or gaining focus. They are opposite in meaning.