got their attention

USAGE SUMMARY

"got their attention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express that something has drawn someone's focus or caused them to pay attention. For example: "The loud noise immediately got their attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It got their attention.

The New York Times

We got their attention.

The New York Times

"That got their attention and others' too".

The New York Times

But that one got their attention".

The New York Times

"Got their attention," he said.

The New York Times

"I think it got their attention".

The New York Times - Sports

That got their attention and their respect.

The New York Times

But the sight of me clearly got their attention.

The New Yorker

But the money rushing into computer security got their attention.

The Washington Post

"I think we've really got their attention," Mr. Snow said.

The New York Times

Wang got their attention — inadvertent as it may have been.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "got their attention" to emphasize that a specific action or event successfully captured someone's focus. For instance, "The unexpected announcement got their attention immediately."

Common error

Avoid using "got their attention" in overly passive constructions. Instead of saying "Their attention was got by the presentation", use the active voice: "The presentation got their attention".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got their attention" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that someone or something has successfully captured the focus or awareness of a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and acceptable expression in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "got their attention" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that signifies successfully capturing someone's focus. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase finds its primary usage in News & Media and academic contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for diverse scenarios. While direct and effective, writers may consider alternatives such as "attracted their notice" or "piqued their interest" for heightened formality or vividness. By avoiding passive constructions and adhering to best practices, writers can harness the power of "got their attention" effectively in their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attracted their notice

Replaces 'attention' with 'notice', focusing on the act of being observed.

caught their eye

Uses a more visual metaphor, suggesting something visually appealing or striking.

piqued their interest

Emphasizes that something stimulated curiosity or intrigue.

drew their focus

Highlights the act of redirecting someone's concentration.

commanded their awareness

Suggests a forceful or authoritative capture of attention.

seized their focus

Implies a sudden and forceful grab of their concentration.

made them take notice

Highlights the result of something being noticed or heeded.

alerted them

Suggests a warning or something needing immediate attention.

sparked their curiosity

Focuses on creating an initial feeling of wanting to know more.

registered with them

Suggests a subtle but effective way of being noticed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "got their attention" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "attracted their notice", "commanded their awareness", or "drew their focus". These options are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "got their attention" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "got their attention" might be considered informal for some academic contexts. Depending on the specific requirements, alternatives like "piqued their interest" or "drew their focus" could be more suitable.

What's a more vivid way to say "got their attention"?

To add vividness, you could use phrases like "caught their eye" if it's visually related or "sparked their curiosity" if you want to highlight interest.

When is it best to use "got their attention" over other similar phrases?

Use "got their attention" when you want a straightforward and generally applicable way to say that someone's focus was captured. It's suitable for various situations unless a more formal or vivid expression is specifically desired.