focus merely on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "focus merely on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize that attention should be directed solely towards a specific aspect or topic, without considering other factors. Example: "In this analysis, we will focus merely on the financial implications of the decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

For the first time, a framework supports multiple modern controllers concurrently communicating with multiple, device naïve, requesting applications, utilizing standard, real time, internet communication technologies, as opposed to current practices which focus merely on one device.

Information Sciences

Against Lewis's proposal one could hold that it seems arbitrary to focus merely on the support single elements of a set receive from the rest of the set (cf. Bovens and Olsson 2000).

SEP

They focus merely on tax cuts and slashing red tape.

The Economist

"Once you get past that, there are real things that are happening to real people, that, if you focus merely on the stuff, you are going to miss".

The New York Times

This is because mobile communication systems focus merely on the mobility behavior of mobile users.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Unlike Gupta (2011), many authors focus (merely) on the product perspective.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Yet when the surveillance system has jumped outside of the realm of "terror suspects" and is now watching all of us, all of the time, it is clear that focusing merely on this one segment misses the broader point.

Huffington Post

However, most published treatments so far have focused merely on this technique's ability to produce low-cost, high quality representations, with one or two also suggesting new opportunities for citizen science.

Journal of Archaeological Science

But once again, a lot of this discussion focuses merely on the upper echelons of society.

Independent

You focused merely on the personalities of those who want to be our next governor.

The New York Times

Rather than the regular interactions between investors and senior management in companies focusing merely on financial performance indicators, topics of particular concern to responsible investors could be raised.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "focus merely on" to deliberately narrow the scope of discussion or analysis, indicating that other aspects are being intentionally excluded from consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "focus merely on" when a more comprehensive perspective is needed. Ensure that excluding other factors doesn't lead to a skewed or incomplete understanding of the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "focus merely on" functions as a verb phrase indicating the direction of attention or effort towards a specific subject, often implying a deliberate limitation of scope. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "focus merely on" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to narrow the scope of attention or analysis. Ludwig AI highlights its usage in science and news media. While generally suitable for neutral to formal contexts, be mindful of the potential for overlooking broader implications when using this phrase. Consider alternatives like "focus solely on" or "concentrate solely on" depending on the desired nuance. Ensure that excluding other factors doesn't compromise the completeness or accuracy of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus solely on

Replaces "merely" with "solely", emphasizing exclusivity of focus.

focus exclusively on

Substitutes "merely" with "exclusively", reinforcing the concept of a singular focus.

concentrate solely on

Uses "concentrate" instead of "focus" and "solely" instead of "merely", slightly altering the tone.

emphasize only

Replaces "focus" with "emphasize" and "merely on" with "only", shifting the emphasis to highlighting.

fixate solely on

Uses "fixate" to indicate a more intense and possibly obsessive focus.

center entirely on

Employs "center" to convey a core focus and "entirely" for complete concentration.

direct attention only to

Rephrases to highlight the direction of attention towards a specific element.

limit attention to

Focuses on the restrictive aspect of the focus, implying boundaries.

zero in only on

Suggests a precise and targeted concentration, narrowing the scope.

dwell solely upon

Implies a prolonged and perhaps excessive focus on a particular aspect.

FAQs

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

Use "focus merely on" to indicate that you are intentionally limiting the scope of your analysis or discussion to a specific aspect. For example, "The study will "focus merely on" the economic impact of the policy, without considering its social effects."

What's a less formal way to say "focus merely on"?

In less formal contexts, you could use phrases like "just focus on" or "only concentrate on". For example, "Let's "just focus on" getting the basics right first."

What are the nuances of using "focus merely on" versus "focus primarily on"?

"Focus merely on" suggests a deliberate exclusion of other factors, whereas "focus primarily on" indicates that other factors are still acknowledged but given less attention. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects your intended emphasis.

Is it ever better to use "focus exclusively on" instead of "focus merely on"?

"Focus exclusively on" emphasizes the singularity of the focus to a greater degree than "focus merely on". Use "focus exclusively on" when you want to highlight that absolutely nothing else is being considered.