guys pay attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "guys pay attention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in informal contexts to grab the attention of a group, typically in a casual or conversational setting. Example: "Hey guys, pay attention to the instructions I'm about to give you for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"If guys pay attention to that, you'll see quite a few guys go to the bathroom.

The New York Times

"When you're overseas, you're not around for the pop culture, clothing, vehicles, anything that guys pay attention to," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"He gets guys paying attention to him, which singles me up so I can make plays.

The New York Times - Sports

Once he came back, guys paid attention and responded to the lessons he was teaching.

The New York Times - Sports

Never change for a guy! Pay attention to how long you can keep eye contact with him, it's easier to tell the length if he's kinda shy.

WikiHow

"New Hampshire is fairly middle-of-the-road to conservative, and if we're concerned about this, then maybe you guys should pay attention to it".

The New York Times

Contrary to what you may have heard elsewhere, guys do pay attention to your heels, jewelry and nail polish.

Huffington Post

Girls love guys who pay attention to what they say.

WikiHow

Women tend to have thinner eyebrows with more of a curve to them, and they take good care of them, while guys rarely pay attention to their eyebrows.

WikiHow

If you want your guy to pay attention to you more, you can make a big change in your appearance to help shake him up and get his attention focused back where it belongs: on you.

WikiHow

"Not all young guys want to pay attention to the veteran guys who've been in the game a long time," Schmidt said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase to introduce important instructions, information, or warnings to ensure the audience is focused and receptive.

Common error

Avoid using "guys pay attention" in highly formal contexts like academic lectures or official announcements. Opt for more professional alternatives such as "may I have your attention please?" or "please focus your attention on this".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "guys pay attention" primarily functions as an imperative, directly urging a group of people (typically, but not exclusively, male) to focus their awareness on something. This aligns with Ludwig's recognition of its common usage in direct communication.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

40%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "guys pay attention" is a common and generally acceptable way to urge a group to focus, as supported by Ludwig. However, its informal register means it’s best suited for casual settings. For more formal situations, consider alternatives such as "may I have your attention" or similar phrases. While "guys" may be used colloquially, be mindful of inclusivity and consider using "everyone pay attention" for mixed-gender groups.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Everyone, listen up

This is a direct and relatively informal way to call for attention from a group.

Pay attention, everyone

This is a more direct command using the root phrase.

All eyes on me

This phrase requests visual attention, often used by performers or speakers.

May I have your attention, please

This is a polite and formal request for attention, often used in professional settings.

Let's focus, team

This is used to refocus a team on their task or goal.

Attention, please

A general and formal way to ask for attention.

Listen closely, folks

A friendly way to ask people to listen carefully.

Take note, everyone

Emphasizes the importance of remembering something.

Heads up, people

Warns of something that requires immediate attention.

Important announcement

Signals that crucial information is about to be shared.

FAQs

How can I use "guys pay attention" in a sentence?

You can use "guys pay attention" to get the attention of a group of people, typically in an informal setting. For example, "Hey guys, pay attention! I'm about to show you something cool."

What can I say instead of "guys pay attention" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you can use phrases such as "may I have your attention, please", "attention, please", or "please focus your attention".

Is it appropriate to use "guys pay attention" when addressing a mixed-gender group?

While commonly used, "guys pay attention" might not be the most inclusive term for a mixed-gender group. Alternatives like "everyone pay attention" or "folks pay attention" are more inclusive.

Which is correct, "guys pay attention" or "guys, pay attention"?

"Guys, pay attention" is grammatically correct because the comma indicates a direct address. However, "guys pay attention" is also used, especially in informal contexts, though it may be seen as slightly less grammatically precise.