lesser focus on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser focus on" is not standard in written English; the correct form would be "less focus on." You can use it when discussing a reduced emphasis or attention given to a particular subject or issue.
Example: "In this new strategy, there will be less focus on traditional marketing methods."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We still don't see tablets (with limited local storage, file system, lesser focus on traditional productivity, etc) as functional competitors to PCs – but they are winning consumer dollars with mobility and consumer appeal nevertheless".

The Guardian - Tech

Reviewers like Empires Danny Graydon seemed to reaffirm this opinion by considering this version a "considerable improvement on the original version," notably preferring the more violent undertones, a lesser focus on the romance, and the equal focus of Daredevil and his lawyer alias Matt Murdock and the subplot involving Coolio.

Wikipedia

Some countries might be tempted to invest more where impact is more visible in the short-run, such as the infrastructure sector, hence a lesser focus on social sector, for example, investing in safety nets for the most vulnerable members of the society.

Unicef

With a few notable exceptions [ 19, 48, 49], most studies of synthetic biological systems are centred on the development of rational engineering approaches, reporting successful and advantageous aspects of the engineered systems, with a lesser focus on reporting failure modes and compiling the engineering solutions applied to troubleshoot system failures.

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Although the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have donated large sums to help address Africa's health problems, most of the funding has been earmarked for HIV, with a lesser financial focus on TB.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

The reformers among the lesser nobles focused on the program of the "execution" (enforcement) of laws that prohibited the transfer of crown lands and the accumulation of offices that profited the oligarchy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The one thing we always said we would be focusing on is giving maximum support to the lesser known sports.

The Guardian - Sport

In lesser hands the focus on Brazilians and heels might feel like a trudge through the overvisited subject matter of an increasingly exhausted genre — the wry personal essay — but "How to Be a Woman" is too forceful for that.

The New York Times - Books

"I think trustee should focus on lesser claims first," he says.

The New York Times

Morrison deliberately avoided revisiting his most well-known numbers, deciding to focus on lesser known songs from his extensive back catalogue.

The Guardian - Music

Allan hands me a pair of binoculars that would break the arm of a lesser man, and I focus on a black dot with a glorious ruby fantail.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for "less focus on" instead of "lesser focus on" for grammatical correctness and wider acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser" before uncountable nouns like "focus". "Lesser" is typically used to compare countable nouns, while "less" is used for uncountable nouns. Use "less focus on" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a diminished degree of attention or importance given to a particular subject. Although grammatically questionable, Ludwig includes examples showing its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

25%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lesser focus on" is used to indicate a reduced emphasis on a particular subject. However, Ludwig AI points out that the phrase isn't considered grammatically standard; "less focus on" is the recommended alternative. While "lesser focus on" appears in a variety of sources, including news, business, and scientific contexts, it's essential to recognize the grammatical preference for "less focus on". When writing, prioritize "less focus on" or other alternatives like "reduced emphasis on" or "diminished attention to" to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced focus on

Replaces "lesser" with "reduced" emphasizing a decrease in attention or importance.

decreased emphasis on

Uses "decreased emphasis" to highlight the reduction in prominence or significance given to something.

diminished attention to

Employs "diminished attention" to denote a decrease in the amount of consideration given.

lessened concentration on

Substitutes "lessened concentration" to indicate a reduction in the degree of mental effort directed toward something.

lighter touch on

Uses "lighter touch" to suggest a more gentle or subtle approach, implying less direct focus.

reduced priority for

Indicates that something is given a lower level of importance or urgency.

secondary importance to

Positions something as having less significance compared to something else.

marginalized focus on

Suggests that the focus is being pushed to the sidelines or treated as less important.

subordinate attention to

Indicates that something receives less attention because it is considered of lower rank or importance.

de-emphasized focus on

Explicitly states that the focus is being made less prominent or significant.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "lesser focus on"?

While "lesser focus on" appears in some sources, "less focus on" is generally considered more grammatically correct. "Lesser" typically modifies countable nouns, whereas "less" modifies uncountable nouns like "focus".

What's the difference between "lesser focus on" and "less focus on"?

"Lesser" implies a comparison between two countable items, while "less" refers to a smaller quantity of something uncountable. Since "focus" is uncountable in this context, "less focus on" is the preferred usage.

How can I rephrase "lesser focus on" to sound more professional?

Consider using alternatives like "reduced emphasis on", "decreased attention to", or "lower priority for" for a more professional tone.

When is it acceptable to use "lesser focus on"?

While not strictly incorrect, "lesser focus on" is less common and less grammatically precise. It's generally better to opt for "less focus on" or other alternatives like "reduced focus on" in formal writing.