hold focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold focus" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to maintain or sustain one's attention or concentration on something. Example: During the presentation, the speaker used various techniques to hold the audience's focus, such as incorporating interactive activities and strong visuals.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

I was able to hold focus.

Harvard University

We hold focus groups all the time.

Columbia University

Companies like Disney and McDonald's hold focus groups in high schools.

The New York Times

U3 will conduct surveys and hold focus groups, interviews and community meetings.

Cornell University

The school district is planning to hold focus groups as the process moves forward.

The Washington Post

Nissan plans to hold focus groups with drivers, taxi owners and passengers to determine the most pleasing honk, but the company already has a few horns on file.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

They held focus groups in New Jersey.

The New York Times

It held focus groups and showed people prototypes of the tile interface and its live updates.

The New York Times - Tech

It has held focus groups with blacks and Hispanics to find out why they stay away.

The Economist

In doing so, he held focus groups and surveyed the vendors, most of them women.

The New York Times

Shortly after the Groove epiphany, Lululemon held focus groups in Manhattan with local women.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, actively use "hold focus" to emphasize the ability to maintain concentration, especially when discussing strategies or techniques to improve attentiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "hold focus" in contexts where a more dynamic or engaging term is needed. It is sometimes better to use alternatives that reflect adaptability or excitement, depending on the message you want to deliver.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold focus" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "hold" acts as a transitive verb taking "focus" as its object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and used to indicate maintaining attention or concentration. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

35%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hold focus" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that signifies maintaining attention or concentration. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across diverse fields like academia, news, and science. While neutral in register, "hold focus" finds frequent use in contexts demanding sustained attention. Alternatives such as "maintain focus" or "stay focused" offer slight variations in emphasis. Using "hold focus" appropriately involves recognizing its suitability in contexts that require continuous attentiveness and avoiding misuse in scenarios necessitating more dynamic expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain focus

Replaces "hold" with "maintain", emphasizing the act of keeping focus.

stay focused

A more casual way of saying "hold focus", indicating a continued state of focus.

sustain attention

Substitutes both "hold" and "focus" with synonyms that highlight continuous attention.

keep concentrated

Focuses on the state of being concentrated rather than the act of holding focus.

remain attentive

Highlights the quality of attentiveness as a state of being.

preserve concentration

Emphasizes the effort to protect and keep concentration intact.

concentrate steadily

Focuses on the manner of concentration: in a consistent and unbroken way.

fixate attention

Implies directing and securing attention firmly on something.

capture attention

Shifts the focus to initially gaining and then maintaining attention.

direct focus

Emphasizes the act of intentionally guiding one's focus.

FAQs

How can I use "hold focus" effectively in a sentence?

Use "hold focus" to describe actions or techniques that help maintain concentration, such as, "The meditation exercise helped me "hold focus" during long meetings".

What are some alternatives to "hold focus"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "maintain focus", "sustain attention", or "stay focused" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "holding focus" instead of "hold focus"?

Yes, "holding focus" is grammatically correct, especially when used as a gerund or in continuous tenses, such as, "Holding focus during lectures can be challenging".

How does "hold focus" differ from "pay attention"?

"Hold focus" suggests a sustained effort to maintain concentration, while "pay attention" implies directing one's attention towards something at a specific moment. "Hold focus" often indicates an ongoing effort.