held attention

USAGE SUMMARY

"held attention" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of keeping someone concentrated or engaged in something, either literally (e.g. paying attention to a class or a speaker) or figuratively (e.g. captivating someone's interest). Example sentence: The comedian's witty jokes held the audience's attention until the end of the show.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Fortunately, its separate parts held attention.

The New York Times - Arts

Like the old stories they evoke, they are little allegories of captured and held attention.

The New York Times - Books

She held attention with calm authority and exceptional discipline, but principally by demonstrating multiple aspects of Indian womanhood, secular and sacred.

The New York Times - Arts

The SPRK+ is versatile and, thanks to its engaging, Scratch-like block-based computer coding system, it was the toy that held attention longest.

The Guardian - Tech

Several people in the onstage audience were more sheerly watchable, particularly in the relative ease with which they carried their heads and shoulders, whereas the stance of Aaron Hodges, the lead male performer, had a constricted, clotted quality that held attention only for short doses.

The New York Times - Arts

Though I personally am a VR skeptic, the way that Oculus has held attention is admirable, and it stands in stark contrast to microconsoles.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In Ohio, where both parties held attention-grabbing gubernatorial primaries, there were 827,039 votes cast in the Republican race and just 679,738 votes cast in the Democratic race.

The Washington Post

It holds attention and disturbs.

The Guardian - Music

She did not know how to gain and hold attention.

The New Yorker

But see it: Lang knows how to hold attention.

The New York Times

The video doesn't contain errors, but it does simplify things greatly to hold attention.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "held attention" when you want to emphasize the act of maintaining someone's focus or interest over a period. It's suitable for describing performances, presentations, or any situation where keeping an audience engaged is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "held attention" with passive subjects that lack agency. For instance, instead of saying "Attention was held by the speaker", prefer "The speaker held the audience's attention".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held attention" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive verb in the past tense followed by a noun. It describes the action of something or someone maintaining the focus or interest of others. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "held attention" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that describes the act of maintaining someone's focus or interest. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and the provided examples illustrate its usage across various contexts, primarily in News & Media. While not exceedingly common, it's a valuable phrase to use when you want to emphasize the sustained engagement of an audience. Consider alternatives like "captured interest" or "maintained focus" to add variety to your writing. The phrase's effectiveness lies in its ability to convey a sense of prolonged engagement, making it suitable for describing captivating performances, presentations, or any situation where keeping an audience engrossed is key. When using "held attention", ensure the subject is active and avoid overuse in passive constructions. Remember that while closely related to "grabbed attention", the latter implies a sudden, immediate capture of focus while the former focuses on the duration of that capture.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

captured interest

Emphasizes sparking initial interest and then maintaining it.

maintained focus

Highlights the aspect of keeping someone's focus steady.

kept engaged

Focuses on the active involvement and interest of the subject.

riveted

Implies a strong, almost mesmerizing, effect on attention.

engrossed

Suggests a deep absorption that holds attention.

captivated

Highlights the charming or fascinating quality that holds attention.

absorbed interest

Focuses on the immersive quality of maintaining interest.

dominated their thoughts

Conveys a powerful influence on one's thinking.

commanded focus

Emphasizes the power to direct and maintain attention.

kept them hooked

Suggests a compelling quality that makes someone unable to stop paying attention.

FAQs

How can I use "held attention" in a sentence?

You can use "held attention" to describe something that kept people focused, such as "The speaker's compelling story "held attention" of the audience throughout the presentation".

What are some alternatives to "held attention"?

Alternatives to "held attention" include "captured interest", "maintained focus", or "kept engaged". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "grabbed attention" or "held attention"?

"Grabbed attention" implies a sudden, immediate capturing of focus, while "held attention" suggests a sustained, continued focus. Use "grabbed" when the initial impact is key, and "held" when the duration of focus is more important.

What's the difference between "held attention" and "kept attention"?

While similar, "held attention" often implies a more compelling or captivating quality that naturally sustained focus. "Kept attention" suggests more active effort was required to maintain focus, but the terms are largely interchangeable.