focus less on

USAGE SUMMARY

"focus less on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are trying to express that something should receive less attention or be given less focus. Example Sentence: I'm trying to focus less on material possessions and more on experiences that will bring joy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

To do that one must focus less on oneself and more on others.

Forbes

But one way to identify future Stevenses may be to focus less on ideology than on temperament.

The New York Times

"We focus less on times than winning.

The Guardian - Sport

always focus less on the living of its people.

University of California, Berkeley

The new efforts focus less on counting "points" for foods.

The New York Times - Health

What helps us focus less on worrying about the future?

The New York Times

That's why we should focus less on it.

The New York Times

Focus less on the reading levels of books.

The Washington Post

Asking Germany to focus less on exports – the backbone of the economy – would be like asking the British economy to focus less on the financial sector.

The Guardian

But On will focus less on products and appliances and more on Internet lifestyle and culture.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Focus less on finding a culprit and more on making sure problems don't recur.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "focus less on", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what the focus should be shifted to. This provides a balanced and actionable suggestion.

Common error

Avoid using "focus less on" without specifying an alternative area of focus. This can leave the reader unclear about the intended direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "focus less on" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a directive, advising a reduction in attention or emphasis on a particular subject or object. Ludwig AI validates its correct grammatical structure and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

14%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

6%

Lifestyle

5%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "focus less on" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, for suggesting a shift in attention or emphasis. It's versatile enough for various contexts, although primarily found in News & Media. Effective use involves clearly indicating what the attention should be redirected towards. Alternatives like "reduce focus on", "pay less attention to", and "de-emphasize" offer similar meanings, each with subtle nuances. Remember to avoid vagueness by always specifying the alternative focus. Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for clear and directive communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce focus on

This is a direct synonym, simply replacing "focus less" with "reduce focus".

lessen the emphasis on

This closely mirrors the original meaning, substituting "lessen" for "focus less".

decrease emphasis on

This is similar to lessen the emphasis, but uses "decrease".

shift focus away from

This emphasizes the act of moving attention to another area.

pay less attention to

This alternative shifts the focus to the act of paying attention, rather than focusing directly.

minimize attention to

This alternative is similar to "pay less attention", but uses "minimize" for a stronger effect.

de-emphasize

This alternative provides a more concise and direct way to indicate a reduction in emphasis.

give less weight to

This suggests assigning less importance or significance.

downplay

This implies deliberately minimizing the importance of something.

take the spotlight off

This uses a metaphorical expression to suggest reducing prominence.

FAQs

How can I use "focus less on" in a sentence?

You can use "focus less on" to suggest a shift in attention or priority. For example, "We need to "focus less on" the symptoms and more on the cause."

What's a good alternative to "focus less on"?

Alternatives include "reduce focus on", "pay less attention to", or "de-emphasize", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "focus less on"?

Yes, "focus less on" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in both formal and informal writing. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable.

What's the difference between "focus less on" and "concentrate less on"?

"Focus less on" and "concentrate less on" are quite similar, but "concentrate less on" implies a more deliberate and sustained effort of attention. Both suggest reducing the degree of mental effort directed towards something.