keep attention

USAGE SUMMARY

'keep attention' is not considered correct or usable in written English.
A better version would be 'pay attention'. For example: Be sure to pay attention during the meeting to ensure you understand all the important points.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By keeping its earnings strong, the company can of course keep attention focused on the bottom line.

Forbes

The goal of the trip was to keep attention focused on Haiti's plight.

The New York Times

Readers who keep attention through the many layers of conjecture might not be convinced.

The Guardian - Books

How can advocates such as yourself keep attention on the campaign?

The Guardian

We owe it to the nation's young to keep attention fixed on that summer game changer.

The Guardian - Opinion

But that means that some group, some political articulation, has to keep attention on the problem of structural inequality.

University of California, Berkeley

Public opinion can help keep attention on these countries and avoid some of the international-diplomatic-fashion effect, where attention flits from one country to another.

The New Yorker

This week, Ferrari was no doubt hoping to keep attention on the beauty of its road cars while celebrating the pedigree if its Formula One heritage.

The New York Times - Sports

Divide-and-conquer measures like stoking sectarian tensions and blaming foreign meddling can keep attention away from autocratic political systems for only so long.

The New York Times

He added that in his view Unite Here was preventing a settlement, to keep attention on its national campaign of organizing Hyatt hotels.

The New York Times

He might blow kisses, mobilize troops, denounce the United States, ride a bike, a tank, a helicopter — anything to keep attention focused on him, not his performance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "keep attention" is frequently used, consider opting for grammatically sound alternatives like "pay attention" or "maintain focus" to enhance clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "keep attention" when you intend to convey active direction of someone's focus. Instead of saying 'We need to keep their attention', try 'We need to "capture their attention"' or 'We need to "grab their attention"' to accurately reflect the act of drawing someone's focus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep attention" functions as a verb phrase aimed at describing the action of sustaining or maintaining focus. Ludwig AI identifies that while commonly used, especially in news and media, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep attention" is frequently encountered across various sources, particularly in news and media. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. While aiming to convey the idea of sustaining focus, it's advisable to opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "pay attention", "maintain focus", or "retain interest". By choosing these alternatives, you enhance clarity and credibility in your writing. Despite its common usage, prioritizing grammatical correctness ensures effective communication. While prevalent, the phrase "keep attention" should be used cautiously due to its grammatical status.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pay attention

Replaces "keep" with "pay", resulting in a grammatically correct and more common expression.

maintain focus

Uses "maintain" instead of "keep" and "focus" instead of "attention", suggesting a sustained concentration.

hold focus

Similar to 'maintain focus', this refers to ensuring focus persists.

preserve focus

Emphasizes the preservation of existing focus.

sustain interest

Shifts the focus to maintaining interest rather than simply attention.

retain interest

Similar to sustain interest, but emphasizes retaining interest that is already there.

capture attention

Emphasizes the act of initially attracting attention.

draw attention

Highlights the act of attracting attention.

direct attention

Focuses on guiding or channeling attention.

command attention

Implies a forceful or authoritative demand for attention.

FAQs

What is a better alternative to "keep attention"?

Consider using phrases such as "pay attention", "maintain focus", or "retain interest" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "keep attention" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "keep attention" is not considered grammatically correct. It's generally better to use "pay attention" or a similar alternative.

How can I use "maintain focus" instead of "keep attention"?

Use "maintain focus" when you want to emphasize the continuous effort to stay concentrated. For example, "The key to success is to maintain focus on your goals."

When should I use "retain interest" instead of "keep attention"?

Use "retain interest" when you are discussing maintaining someone's engagement or enthusiasm. For instance, "The speaker used anecdotes to retain interest throughout the presentation."