maintain attention

USAGE SUMMARY

'maintain attention' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of remaining focused on something. For example, "The speaker managed to maintain attention from the audience throughout the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This suggests that increased left parietal relative beta band power may reflect increased arousal levels required to maintain attention during attentional tasks.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Occipital cortex interacts with the dorsal attentional network to maintain attention and to suppress attention to irrelevant stimuli (57).

Biological Psychiatry

These occur unpredictably, without consistency either within or between participants and under conditions where attempts were made to maintain attention; possibly reflecting the need for more sensitive measures of attentional state.

Human Brain Mapping

It takes great training and effort to maintain attention on one object — in what Buddhists call concentration meditation — because the brain is highly susceptible to both voluntary and involuntary demands on its attention.

The New Yorker

Vigilance tasks and low target prevalence search share the need to maintain attention while trying to detect the rare target.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Learn to vary the pitch, tone, and volume of your voice to maintain attention and motivate participants.

Science Magazine

This wasn't a cruise assist demo where you have to maintain attention; Patel encouraged me to turn away from the windshield, relax and enjoy the mountain view.

TechCrunch

This can be explained by the fact that in solving WCST, one has to maintain attention and not only think flexibly.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

Thus, college students with high levels of self-regulation are less likely to text during class and more likely to maintain attention to classroom learning.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Breivik reported that students liked the flexibility of video lectures, watching at convenient times while they found it easier to maintain attention than in class.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

This would allow the pedestrian to maintain attention on the environment and their tasks (e.g. walking, talking, or work-related tasks), only cueing when and where appropriate.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions or guides, use active voice alongside the phrase "maintain attention" to clearly indicate who should be focusing and on what. For instance, instead of "Attention should be maintained," write "The user must maintain attention on the screen."

Common error

Avoid using passive voice when discussing "maintain attention". Instead of saying "Attention needs to be maintained", specify who should maintain attention to make the writing more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain attention" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the act of preserving or continuing focus on a particular task, object, or idea. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain attention" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, primarily functioning as a verb phrase to describe the act of preserving focus. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various domains, with a strong presence in science, news, and formal business contexts. When using "maintain attention", opt for active voice to clearly specify who should be focusing and consider alternatives like "sustain focus" or "retain attentiveness" to add variety to your writing. Remember that while the expression is versatile, its core purpose remains to emphasize the importance of keeping one's focus, making it a valuable tool in both descriptive and instructional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustain focus

This alternative emphasizes the continuous aspect of attention, similar to "maintain attention".

retain attentiveness

This phrase highlights the quality of being attentive and keeping it.

hold focus

This option suggests gripping or securing attention to prevent it from wandering.

preserve concentration

This emphasizes the effort to avoid distractions and keep mental focus.

keep someone engaged

Shifts the focus to making sure the object of attention stays interested.

encourage focus

This alternative conveys the idea of promoting or fostering attention.

cultivate mindfulness

Suggests developing a state of active, open attention on the present.

ensure vigilance

This phrase is more about ensuring alertness and readiness, a specific form of attention.

foster awareness

Focuses on increasing consciousness and perception, related to a broader sense of attention.

stimulate curiosity

Highlights the act of arousing interest to encourage someone to pay attention.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain attention" to describe the act of keeping focus on something. For example, "The key to a successful presentation is to "maintain attention" throughout the speech."

What are some alternatives to "maintain attention"?

Some alternatives include "sustain focus", "retain attentiveness", or "hold focus", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it better to say "maintain attention" or "sustain attention"?

Both "maintain attention" and "sustain attention" are correct and largely interchangeable. "Maintain" implies keeping attention at a certain level, while "sustain" emphasizes continuing it over a period.

How does the ability to "maintain attention" relate to cognitive performance?

The ability to "maintain attention" is a key component of executive function, impacting planning, organization, and overall cognitive performance. Difficulties in "maintain attention" can indicate cognitive impairments.