focus attention on something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "focus attention on something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize the importance of directing one's awareness or consideration towards a specific subject or issue. Example: "In order to improve our marketing strategy, we need to focus attention on our target audience's preferences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

PAGE A15 NATIONAL PICKING OBAMA'S SUCCESSOR A Boon for Illinois Governor The task of filling President-elect Barack Obama's seat in the Senate offers Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois a double blessing of sorts: a chance to wield influence in Washington and to focus attention on something other than his own litany of problems.

The New York Times

But this it seems to me only serves to focus attention on something illogical at the heart of the church's traditional teaching on birth control, which is: if the point is that God should have space to "intervene" and make a pregnancy happen, surely He/She can intervene just as effectively via a torn condom or a missed pill as via a mistaken calendar calculation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Focusing attention on something as seemingly insignificant as electric hand dryers suddenly reveals the complexity and chaos of modern life.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The phenomenon is so common that researchers even have a name for it: the Hawthorne effect — the fact that simply focusing attention on something, like a school, is enough to cause a temporary uptick in performance.

The New York Times - Magazine

For example, patients who are very anxious and jittery may not be able to sit still and focus on their breath without increasing their anxiety; they might instead benefit more from walking meditation or focused attention on something outside themselves, such as sounds in their environment.

University of California, Berkeley

People often fail to notice unexpected objects and events when they are focusing attention on something else.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

People often fail to notice unexpected events when they are focusing attention on something else, a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness (Mack & Rock, 1998).

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

"The best practices to stimulate mindfulness awareness in kids are sensory activities that involve focused attention on something concrete, like listening and looking or movement activities that involve yoga or martial arts," said Jennings.

Huffington Post

Will the crises and fierce debates set off by Brexit, which are likely to be long running and deep, do something to focus attention on these longstanding issues and force some substantial attempts to address them?

The Guardian - Opinion

Russia's leaders have long sought to shape the teaching of Soviet-era history, but Mr. Medvedev did something unusual by focusing attention on its crimes.

The New York Times

Reliquaries were designed to make something of those nothings by framing them, focusing attention on them and promoting them.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "focus attention on something", ensure the 'something' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in overly passive constructions. For example, instead of "Attention should be focused on…", opt for "We should focus attention on…" for a more direct and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "focus attention on something" functions as a directive, urging the listener or reader to concentrate their mental efforts on a specific subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

12.5%

Less common in

Wiki

12.5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "focus attention on something" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that directs awareness or consideration towards a specific subject. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but also has relevance in scientific and academic writing. While there are several alternative phrases like "direct your attention to something" or "concentrate on something", the original phrase maintains its clarity and utility across various communication styles. It's crucial to define "something" clearly to avoid ambiguity and to use the active voice for a more direct tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Direct your attention to something

Uses "direct" instead of "focus", implying a more active redirection of attention.

Concentrate on something

Replaces "focus attention" with the single word "concentrate", simplifying the phrase.

Zero in on something

Emphasizes precision in focusing, implying a very narrow focus.

Pay attention to something

A more general instruction to be aware of something.

Give your attention to something

Similar to "pay attention", but slightly more formal.

Turn your attention to something

Implies a change in focus from one thing to another.

Highlight something

Suggests emphasizing something to make it more noticeable.

Emphasize something

Focuses on the act of stressing the importance of something.

Spotlight something

Implies drawing public attention to something.

Bring something to the forefront

Suggests making something more prominent or noticeable.

FAQs

What does "focus attention on something" mean?

It means to direct your awareness, effort, or interest specifically towards a particular subject, issue, or object.

How can I use "focus attention on something" in a sentence?

Example: "The company needs to "focus attention on something" new to increase sales."

Are there any alternatives to "focus attention on something"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "direct your attention to something", "concentrate on something", or "pay attention to something".

Is it grammatically correct to say "focus attention on something"?

Yes, the phrase "focus attention on something" is grammatically correct and widely used in both formal and informal contexts.