engage attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "engage attention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that you are obtaining or focusing someone's interest in something. For example, "The speaker worked to engage the audience's attention by telling an intriguing story."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

You have to engage attention long enough to get your shot.

The New York Times

If you haven't already seen the duck films we've put together, please do take a look – they are the Open Up campaign's attempt to engage attention and divert away from exhaustion and disillusionment towards empowerment.

The Guardian - Opinion

According to Moret-Tatay, Moreno-Cid, Argimon, Quarti Irigaray, Szczerbinski, et al. (2014), this is a plausible result suggesting that an automatic vigilance process might operate to engage attention longer.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

A small dot appeared on the screen to engage attention at the beginning of a go trial.

Plosone

From a developmental perspective, this means that newborns should be equipped with domain-relevant preferences (likely to engage attention on faces occurring in the natural environment), which are not learned and may be present in a similar form in different vertebrates.

Plosone

A small dot appeared on the screen to engage attention and eye fixation at the beginning of a go trial.

Brain Imaging and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Many of the world's smouldering crises in the Middle East, the Balkans, West Africa, the Taiwan straits cry out for the engaged attention of an American president.

The Economist

Just before I set off on this trip I went to my local library in New Hampshire and looked up Australia in the New York Times Index to see how much it had engaged attention in my own country in recent years.

The Guardian - Books

They appear to reflect the lingering act of disengaging from the cognitive processing associated with the IVIS task and fully re-engaging attention to the driving environment.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

On a simplified model, more specifically informed systems signal to the midbrain dopamine neurons the presence of novelty, uncertainty, or learned predictors of pleasure and also unpredicted pleasure.[36] The dopamine signal then engages attention and motivation by telling the striatum to attend and respond mainly to whatever signals came just before.

SEP

It is possible that the multisensory task for the AV group was more demanding and engaged attention more strongly, and thus produced the improved learning.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "engage attention" in writing, use vivid language and compelling narratives to immediately draw the reader in.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice when trying to "engage attention". Instead of saying "Attention was engaged by the presentation", say "The presentation engaged attention" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "engage attention" functions as a verb phrase used to describe the act of capturing or drawing someone's focus or interest. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples, showing its applicability in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "engage attention" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe capturing or drawing someone's focus. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most commonly used in news media and scientific contexts, with a neutral to formal tone. While not extremely frequent, it's a useful phrase to have in your vocabulary. To enhance engagement in your writing, use vivid language and avoid passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capture attention

Emphasizes the act of seizing or gaining attention quickly.

draw attention

Highlights the act of attracting attention, often subtly.

attract attention

Focuses on the quality that makes something attention-worthy.

command attention

Suggests a forceful or authoritative gaining of attention.

hold attention

Implies maintaining focus over a period of time.

focus attention

Directs attention to a specific point or subject.

gain attention

Highlights the effort to acquire attention.

pique interest

Indicates arousing curiosity or interest as a way to gain attention.

stimulate interest

Emphasizes activating or encouraging interest.

compel attention

Suggests an irresistible demand for attention.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "engage attention" in a sentence?

Use "engage attention" to show how something captures someone's focus. For example, "The speaker used humor to "capture the audience" and "engage attention".

What are some alternatives to "engage attention"?

Consider using alternatives like "capture attention", "draw attention", or "attract attention" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "engage attention" or "attract attention"?

Both "engage attention" and "attract attention" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Engage attention" suggests a more active involvement, while "attract attention" simply means to draw focus.

What's the difference between "engage attention" and "hold attention"?

"Engage attention" refers to initially capturing someone's focus, while "hold attention" implies maintaining that focus over time.