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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
grasping attention
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "grasping attention" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "grabbing attention," which is commonly used to describe the act of attracting someone's focus or interest. Example: "The advertisement was designed to grab attention with its bold colors and catchy slogan."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Experimental Psychology
Wiki
International Journal of Project Management
Huffington Post
BMC Pediatrics
The Guardian - Music
The New York Times - Sports
The Guardian
Wikipedia
Vice
BMC International Health and Human Rights
BMC Nursing
Huffington Post
Wiki
BMC Pediatrics
The New York Times - Arts
Plosone
The New York Times
The New Yorker
TechCrunch
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
Huffington Post
Vice
The New York Times - Arts
The New York Times
The Economist
The New Yorker
The New Yorker
TechCrunch
Vice
Los Angeles Times
The New York Times
Vice
The Guardian
Huffington Post
The Guardian
Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society
Huffington Post
Huffington Post
The New York Times - Arts
BMC Pediatrics
Huffington Post
The New York Times
The Economist
The New Yorker
TechCrunch
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
Huffington Post
Vice
The New York Times - Arts
The New York Times
The Economist
The New Yorker
TechCrunch
Vice
Los Angeles Times
The New York Times
Vice
The Guardian
Huffington Post
The Guardian
Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society
Huffington Post
Huffington Post
The New York Times - Arts
BMC Pediatrics
Huffington Post
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
Notebaert et al. (2009) have proposed an alternative account for the post-error slowing where the slowing is caused by the error being a rare outcome and therefore grasping attention.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
Feedback signals are designed to minimize the risk that a participant would miss the outcome and as such the feedback may grasp attention.
Science
Oftentimes, their only purpose in humiliation is to grasp attention.
Wiki
Enterprise information systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing executive systems (MES), customer relation management (CRM) and so on, are grasping increasing attention, due to their ability to improve production and business performance, and raise competitive advantage for enterprises.
(And in thirty years, when we're all desperately grasping for attention on BuddyTube or GoogleFriend or LookAPictureOfMeAtARestaurantBook or whatever stupid new website we're using to stalk our ex-girlfriends, you'll still refer to those on-line friends as your Facebook friends).
News & Media
The infant may in this way be promoted to actively perform specific goal-directed activities (e.g. for postural control, reaching, grasping, visual attention and orientation).
Science
The combination of love and hate is fairly cliched and time-worn; if you are looking for a different style of poem you will probably do better to either avoid this combination or learn to craft it anew in a clever and magnificent manner that will grasp the attention of your reader and rivet his or her attention.
Wiki
Whether it's house, bass, or both, Jam City continues to grasp my attention with some of the quirkiest tracks of the last twelve months.
News & Media
Fawcett is much too busy making breakfasts and commuting to practice and keeping her concentration to fully grasp the attention she is receiving for her latest comeback.
News & Media
About 100 female residents of Mukuru, an informal settlement in south-east Nairobi, travelled across town to wave signs and sing songs in a bid to grasp the attention of a government that has for decades failed to recognise their existence.
News & Media
Stone researched actress Ashley Tisdale's performance as Candace on YouTube to better grasp the attention needed on the voice role.
Wiki
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Instead of using "grasping attention", opt for the more grammatically sound and widely accepted phrase "grabbing attention" to effectively convey the act of attracting someone's focus.
Common error
Avoid using "grasping" as it is not the correct verb form in this context. Use "grabbing", "capturing", or "attracting" instead to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity.
Source & Trust
76%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase primarily functions as a gerund phrase, where "grasping" acts as a verb form functioning as a noun, combined with the noun "attention". However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not considered correct in standard written English.
Frequent in
News & Media
27%
Science
27%
Wiki
13%
Less common in
Formal & Business
7%
Experimental Psychology
3%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "grasping attention" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. More appropriate and widely accepted alternatives include "grabbing attention", "capturing attention", or "attracting attention". The phrase's function is to describe the act of gaining someone's focus, but its incorrectness impacts its overall usability. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, it's best to opt for the suggested alternatives. The contexts in which it appears range from news to scientific articles, but its limited frequency and grammatical issues suggest avoiding it in formal writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
grabbing attention
Changes the verb to a more common and accepted form, while retaining the meaning of capturing attention.
capturing attention
Employs a different verb that also conveys the sense of gaining someone's focus.
drawing attention
Uses a different verb to express the act of making someone or something noticeable.
attracting attention
Substitutes the verb to emphasize the act of causing attention to come towards something.
gaining attention
Focuses on the act of acquiring or obtaining attention.
commanding attention
Implies a stronger, more authoritative way of attracting focus.
seizing attention
Suggests a more forceful or sudden way of capturing attention.
getting attention
Uses a more informal verb to convey the act of receiving attention.
winning attention
Suggests an effort or competition to gain attention.
luring attention
Implies tempting or enticing someone to pay attention.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say "grasping attention"?
The correct way to express the idea of attracting someone's focus is to use phrases like "grabbing attention", "capturing attention", or "attracting attention".
Is "grasping attention" grammatically correct?
No, "grasping attention" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The more appropriate options are "grabbing attention" or "capturing attention".
What alternatives can I use for "grasping attention"?
You can use alternatives such as "grabbing attention", "drawing attention", or "attracting attention" to convey the same meaning effectively.
What's the difference between "grasping attention" and "grabbing attention"?
"Grasping attention" is not standard English. "Grabbing attention" is the correct and commonly used phrase to describe the act of attracting someone's focus or interest.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
76%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested