heighten focus

USAGE SUMMARY

"heighten focus" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you wish to emphasize that someone or something is devoting increased attention and concentration to something. For example, "The instructor asked the students to heighten their focus on the lesson."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Strong Chinese economic and export growth coupled with an artificially undervalued RMB will further heighten focus on our huge trade deficit with China.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The bounce back of 2014, inevitable though that had seemed, heightened focus upon McIlroy once again; as did the Augusta appearance of a crimson-haired Caroline Wozniacki, who never seemed to relish playing understudy to her then-fiance.

The Guardian - Sport

Carney acknowledged there was "no question" that the Snowden disclosures had helped lead to the review process and "heightened focus here at the White House and more broadly in the administration, around the United States and the globe".

The Guardian

The Promise of Payments: Despite heightened focus, increased investment dollars and strong media buzz around a revolution in the payments space, there has been relatively little tangible change in the way we pay for things.

TechCrunch

Heightened focus on safety is the norm in this segment; there are front, side and head air bags for driver and passengers, rear curtain air bags, and a pop-up bonnet that cushions the blow to pedestrians on impact.

Forbes

Youth suicides are worthy of heightened focus.

Huffington Post

Instead, that state of relaxed focus is conducive for creative breakthroughs, heightened focus, increased working memory capacity, and flow states.

Huffington Post

"It heightens focus on physical sensation which is really helpful for teaching yourself new forms of movement or discovering patterns of tension in your body.

Vice

With heightened focus by the federal government on involving local law enforcement agencies in apprehending undocumented immigrants, people like Angel Francisco Castro-Torres have been racially profiled and beaten because of how they look.

Huffington Post

Both Chatterjee and Farah have wondered whether drugs that heighten users' focus might dampen their creativity.

The New Yorker

The continued decline in stocks is going to heighten the focus on Federal Reserve policy makers, who will meet on Dec. 19 to consider the direction of interest rates.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heighten focus" when you want to convey an increase in attention or emphasis on a particular subject or task. For example, a manager might "heighten focus" on a crucial project deadline.

Common error

Avoid using "heighten focus" in highly informal contexts. While grammatically sound, it carries a slightly formal tone that might sound out of place in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heighten focus" functions as a verb phrase where "heighten" acts as a transitive verb, taking "focus" as its direct object. This indicates an action of intensifying or increasing the level of attention or concentration directed toward something. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heighten focus" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe increasing attention or emphasis. While Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability, its frequency is uncommon, suggesting that alternative phrases like "improve focus" or "intensify focus" might be more prevalent in certain contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science sources, the phrase carries a neutral to professional tone, making it suitable for formal writing and discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improve focus

Emphasizes making focus better or more effective.

intensify focus

Suggests making focus stronger or more concentrated.

enhance focus

Highlights the enhancement or enrichment of focus.

sharpen focus

Implies making focus clearer and more precise.

increase focus

Focuses on the quantitative aspect of making focus greater.

amplify focus

Suggests greatly increasing the strength or intensity of focus.

boost focus

Indicates a quick and effective way to improve focus.

develop focus

Highlights the process of creating or building focus.

cultivate focus

Suggests a deliberate and sustained effort to foster focus.

strengthen focus

Emphasizes reinforcing and solidifying focus.

FAQs

How can I use "heighten focus" in a sentence?

You can use "heighten focus" when you want to emphasize increasing attention or emphasis. For instance, "The new regulations will "heighten focus" on environmental compliance."

What are some alternatives to "heighten focus"?

Instead of "heighten focus", consider using alternatives like "improve focus", "intensify focus", or "enhance focus", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "heighten focus" formal or informal?

"Heighten focus" is generally considered to be moderately formal. It's suitable for professional or academic writing but might sound slightly out of place in very casual conversation.

What's the difference between "heighten focus" and "increase focus"?

"Heighten focus" suggests an elevation or intensification of existing focus, while "increase focus" simply refers to making the amount of focus greater. The subtle difference lies in the level of intensity and existing presence.