focus with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "focus with" is not technically correct in English, but it may be used in some contexts to indicate that two persons or entities are concentrating on the same task. For example: "We need to focus with our team and find a way to solve the problem."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Cézanne in Focus," with Scott Allan.

The New York Times

"There's a lot of focus with Jeremy.

The New York Times - Sports

It's hard to focus with all that around you.

The New York Times - Sports

Geoffrey Hill came into focus with King Log; Sylvia Plath, magnificently, with Ariel.

The Guardian - Books

His vision could focus, with equal acuity, at six inches, at six feet and at infinity".

The New York Times - Books

Retailers are in focus with a host of updates from the high street.

The Guardian - Business

"There's unity, camaraderie, getting our focus with each other," cornerback Asante Samuel said.

The New York Times

"We had diluted our focus with too many brands and too many initiatives," he acknowledged.

The New York Times

I focus with the conditioning staff to get the best out of my body.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

When I manual-focus with the newer lenses, they just don't feel the same".

The New York Times - Tech

Auto-focus with various flash options (flash fill, night portrait, etc).

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the standard construction "focus on" or "concentrate on" for clearer and more grammatically accepted writing. For example, instead of saying "focus with the team", say "focus on the team".

Common error

Avoid using "with" after "focus" or "concentrate" when indicating the target of your attention. The correct preposition is typically "on". For example, don't say "focus with the details"; instead, use "focus on the details".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "focus with" often appears in contexts where the intended meaning is to express concentration or attention towards something, but it deviates from standard grammatical usage. As Ludwig AI explains, it is not technically correct, suggesting that while understandable, it may not be the most appropriate choice for formal writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "focus with" is frequently encountered, Ludwig AI points out that it's not grammatically correct in standard English. It appears most often in News & Media and Scientific sources, but its usage can be ambiguous. For clearer and more accepted writing, it's best to use "focus on" or "concentrate on" instead. Therefore, while understandable, using "focus with" might detract from the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Always aim for precision in formal contexts by sticking to grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus on

Uses the standard preposition "on" to indicate the object of focus.

concentrate on

Replaces "focus" with the synonym "concentrate" while using the correct preposition.

center on

Similar to "focus on", indicating the central point of attention.

direct attention to

Specifies the act of guiding attention toward something.

concentrate efforts on

Replaces "focus" with "concentrate efforts" making the expression more specific.

zero in on

Suggests a sharp and precise focus.

put emphasis on

Expresses the act of stressing the importance of something.

emphasize

Shifts from focusing to highlighting or stressing something.

give priority to

Indicates the action of assigning higher importance.

prioritize

Indicates that something is given more importance or attention.

FAQs

What's the correct preposition to use after "focus"?

The correct preposition to use after "focus" is typically "on". For example, it's correct to say "focus on the task" rather than "focus with the task".

What can I say instead of "focus with"?

You can use alternatives like "focus on", "concentrate on", or "emphasize" depending on the context.

Is "focus with" grammatically correct?

No, "focus with" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct usage is usually "focus on".

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

Use "focus on" to indicate the subject or area of concentration. For example: "We need to focus on improving our customer service."