maintain concentration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'maintain concentration' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are describing a situation where someone needs to keep their focus on the task at hand. For example: "The student was determined to maintain concentration during the long exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

They maintain concentration on the character's thoughts and feelings, which they reveal through public actions.

The New York Times - Arts

We need constant reminders and constant work that you have to maintain concentration and earn the right to win.

The Guardian - Sport

It was the Tom Jones hit Delilah which Williams sang to himself to maintain concentration in the world final.

The Guardian - Sport

As a result, research tells us, modern children find it harder to maintain concentration, self-regulate behaviour and develop appropriate levels of empathy.

The Guardian - Opinion

The multi-faceted Tore Andre Flo looks unstoppable in attack, and Gustavo Poyet will pillage his usual bounty if Southampton's midfield fail to maintain concentration.

The Guardian - Sport

The challenge for all of us is to maintain concentration, contributing to the aims of events such as the disability summit and not to stigmatisation or discrimination.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

However, he had great difficulty focusing and maintaining concentration.

The New York Times

Much of the instruction was about maintaining concentration in long scenes.

The Guardian - Music

Still, just maintaining concentration in this episodic 40-minute sonata, as Ms. Cooper did throughout her sensitive performance, requires a subtler kind of virtuosity.

The New York Times - Arts

The hardest part of the job, he said, was maintaining concentration when so many fashionable women walked nonstop past the shop's open garage door in nice weather.

The New York Times

Cell-recycle operation maintained concentration of the recombinant cells high inside a bioreactor.

Enzyme and Microbial Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about tasks that require sustained effort, emphasize the strategies used to "maintain concentration", such as taking short breaks or minimizing distractions.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain concentration" when the context actually refers to increasing effort or starting a task. "Maintain concentration" implies a need to sustain existing focus, not initiate it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain concentration" functions as a verb phrase where "maintain" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object, and "concentration" serves as the noun representing the state of focused attention. Examples available on Ludwig confirm its proper function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain concentration" is a grammatically correct and neutrally registered expression used to emphasize the need to sustain focused attention, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While not the most frequent phrase, it's readily understood and can be replaced with synonyms like "sustain focus" or "retain attention". When using the phrase, ensure the context involves sustaining an existing focus, rather than initiating it. Pay attention to strategies to sustain existing focus or avoid errors that break existing concentration. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustain focus

Focus is more general than concentration; sustain is a synonym for maintain.

retain attention

Attention is another way to talk about focus; retain replaces maintain.

preserve focus

Preserve is a slightly stronger synonym for maintain, implying an effort to keep focus from deteriorating.

hold attention

Uses 'hold' to suggest keeping attention fixed.

keep focused

Adopts an adjectival form to express the state of being focused.

stay attentive

Expresses a continuous state of attentiveness.

persevere in attentiveness

This phrase suggests a determined continuation of attentiveness, emphasizing persistence.

uphold focus

Uphold implies a responsibility to maintain focus against challenges.

secure concentration

This suggests actively ensuring concentration is maintained.

ensure attentiveness

Focuses on guaranteeing a state of attentiveness.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "maintain concentration" in a sentence?

Use "maintain concentration" when you want to emphasize the importance of sustaining focus over a period of time. For example, "During the exam, it's crucial to "maintain focus" to avoid careless errors".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "maintain concentration"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "sustain focus", "retain attention", or "preserve focus".

Is it better to say "maintain concentration" or "maintain focus"?

Both "maintain concentration" and "maintain focus" are acceptable. "Concentration" often implies a more intense level of focus, while "focus" can refer to a broader ability to direct attention.

What's the difference between "maintain concentration" and "improve concentration"?

"Maintain concentration" refers to keeping a current level of focus, while "improve concentration" refers to enhancing or increasing one's ability to focus.