excessive focus

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessive focus" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation in which someone has placed too much attention or energy on a particular thing. For example, "The excessive focus on his career left no time for him to develop other hobbies or interests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"An excessive focus on monetary policy in many respects is a massive blame-deflection exercise.

The Guardian - Business

"An excessive focus on exam results is turning our schools at all levels into exam factories.

The Guardian

Their school may be sacrificing comprehension to excessive focus on phonics.

The New York Times

HBR: Do you agree that an excessive focus on shareholders has become a problem?

Harvard Business Review

The problem is that excessive focus exhausts the focus circuits in your brain.

Harvard Business Review

Excessive focus on gun accidents reveals either ignorance or a political agenda.

The New York Times - Health

He complained, justifiably, about Washington's excessive focus on military power to solve political problems.

The New York Times

Tenet, while admitting that his agency made mistakes, said that excessive focus on such mistakes obscures larger truths.

The New Yorker

Mr. Gohar was also critical of what he said was Al Jazeera's excessive focus on the upheaval in Iraq.

The New York Times

Excessive focus on the deficit will force the political debate on to terms that are most favourable to the Tories.

The Guardian - Opinion

It accused the company of excessive focus on production goals and "lack of sensitivity to nuclear safety".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive focus", ensure the context clearly explains why the focus is considered excessive. Providing specific examples or consequences can strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid simply stating there's an "excessive focus" without explaining what aspects are being neglected or what negative outcomes arise from this imbalance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive focus" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI describes, the phrase indicates an overemphasis or disproportionate attention given to a particular subject or area. Examples from Ludwig highlight its use in critiquing policies, behaviors, or strategies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive focus" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a situation where too much emphasis is placed on something, potentially leading to negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used across various contexts, from news and media to academia and business, typically to express concern or criticism about an imbalance of attention. When using this phrase, provide context to justify why the focus is considered excessive. Alternatives like "undue focus" or "disproportionate focus" can offer subtle variations in meaning. Therefore, understanding when and how to wield it is vital for impactful and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Undue focus

Emphasizes that the focus is not justified or warranted.

Disproportionate focus

Highlights that the focus is not in proportion to the importance of the subject.

Inordinate attention

Suggests that the attention given is beyond what is reasonable or appropriate.

Overemphasis

Directly points out that something is being emphasized too much.

Obsessive focus

Indicates a focus that is compulsive and difficult to control.

Unwarranted emphasis

Suggests the emphasis lacks justification or reason.

Too much attention

A more straightforward and simple way of saying attention is excessive.

Overly concerned with

Indicates being excessively worried or preoccupied with something.

Preoccupation with

Implies that something dominates one's thoughts and actions.

Hyper-fixation

Suggests an intense and sometimes unhealthy level of focus.

FAQs

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

You can use "excessive focus" to describe situations where too much attention is given to something, potentially causing negative consequences. For example, "The company's "excessive focus" on short-term profits led to neglecting long-term investments."

What are some alternatives to "excessive focus"?

Alternatives include "undue focus", "disproportionate focus", or "overemphasis", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to have an "excessive focus" on something?

While focus is generally positive, "excessive focus" implies a negative imbalance. It suggests that the attention given is disproportionate, possibly leading to the neglect of other important aspects.

What's the difference between "excessive focus" and "strong focus"?

"Strong focus" simply indicates a high degree of attention, whereas "excessive focus" implies that the level of attention is detrimental or inappropriate in some way.