lessen the focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lessen the focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of reducing attention or concentration on a particular subject or aspect. Example: "To improve overall performance, we need to lessen the focus on minor details and concentrate on the bigger picture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

That'll bring a whole range of other matters to the debate, and lessen the focus on trying to distil what an Indigenous position around recognition would mean".

The Guardian

What can the ministry do to lessen the focus on that?In the past when universities were selecting students they recruited them in the order of their academic achievement.

The Economist

Ennis had to settle for silver in Daegu but that is unlikely to lessen the focus on her once the Games begin next July.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Indeed Rooney's struggles have lessened the focus on other issues.

The Guardian - Sport

Feeding dogs to lessen their weight can also lessen the stress on their hip joints.

WikiHow

Defined mixtures, which are defined by how they are generated, are source-oriented, and lessen the difficulties by focusing exclusively on a distinct type of real-world mixture, such as emissions from certain sources or source categories.

Environmental Health Perspectives

"We just hope changing the structure doesn't change the focus and lessen the intensity".

The New York Times

In most cases there is something that you can focus on to lessen the sadness – some relief of a particular symptom has been managed, the child is marginally better than when they arrived.

The Guardian

The CCC has suggested that diversifying the UK's energy mix, rather than increasing the focus on gas, could help lessen the impact of the higher bills.

The Guardian - Money

Screening services should be implemented while researchers focus on strategies to lessen the incidence and morbidity associated with these conditions.

BMC Public Health

But "Domains," in bot parlance, are areas of expertise, and a key tenet of good bot design is that you keep your domain tightly focused in order to lessen the chance for mistakes.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to redistribute attention across multiple elements, use "lessen the focus" on one element to allow others to gain prominence. This can be helpful in project management or strategic planning to achieve a more balanced approach.

Common error

Avoid using "lessen the focus" when you actually intend to eliminate something entirely. This phrase implies a reduction, not complete removal. For total elimination use "eliminate" or "remove" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lessen the focus" is as a verb phrase used to express the action of reducing the intensity or prominence of something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lessen the focus" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express a reduction in attention or emphasis. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English. While it is not a particularly common phrase, appearing relatively rarely across different contexts, its meaning is clear and consistent. As such, it can be strategically employed to shift priorities or redistribute attention, though care should be taken not to use it when complete elimination is intended. When you choose to use "lessen the focus", remember you can always rely on Ludwig to give you the confidence of the sources it comes from.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the emphasis

Changes the verb to "reduce" and uses the noun "emphasis" instead of "focus".

diminish the attention

Replaces "lessen" with "diminish" and "focus" with "attention".

decrease the concentration

Substitutes "lessen" with "decrease" and "focus" with "concentration".

shift the attention

Indicates a redirection of attention rather than a reduction.

divert the focus

Implies a turning away from the focus, suggesting a change in direction.

soften the spotlight

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate reducing the prominence of something.

tone down the emphasis

Suggests a moderation or softening of the level of emphasis.

de-emphasize the importance

Focuses on reducing the perceived importance of something.

relax the concentration

Suggests making the concentration less intense or rigid.

ease the scrutiny

Implies reducing the intensity of examination or close observation.

FAQs

How can I use "lessen the focus" in a sentence?

You can use "lessen the focus" to indicate a reduction of attention or emphasis on a specific topic. For example, "To improve overall performance, we need to "lessen the focus" on minor details and concentrate on the bigger picture."

What phrases are similar to "lessen the focus"?

Similar phrases include "reduce the emphasis", "diminish the attention", or "shift the attention". Each of these options subtly alters the nuance of the statement.

Is it grammatically correct to say "lessen the focus"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is acceptable in written English and is found in various reputable sources.

What's the difference between "lessen the focus" and "eliminate the focus"?

"Lessen the focus" implies reducing the amount of attention or importance given to something, while "eliminate the focus" suggests completely removing attention from it. The former is a reduction, the latter is a removal.