maintaining attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintaining attention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in contexts where you discuss the act of keeping someone's focus or concentration on a particular task or subject. Example: "Teachers often use various techniques for maintaining attention during lectures to ensure that students remain engaged."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Based on these results, we believe that impulsivity, perseverative responding and impairment in maintaining attention could all contribute to the overall impairment on attentional set-shifting tasks of the SHRs.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

The failure of forming attentional set of the SHR may be due to their defect of maintaining attention [ 37] or dramatic increase in perseverative responding at the shifting [ 38].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Reformers face the challenge of maintaining attention, activism and resources in between tragedies.

The Washington Post

While this area has been associated with a wide variety of mental talents, like conceptual knowledge and verb conjugation, it seems to be especially important for maintaining attention.

The New York Times - Magazine

Difficulties maintaining attention were 15 times higher in subjects aged between 45 and 64 who were using a psychotropic and had also a depressive disorder.

L'Encéphale

They showed that fit children had significantly larger basal ganglia, a key part of the brain that aids in maintaining attention and "executive control," or the ability to coordinate actions and thoughts crisply.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

For example, during conflict resolution, an ATCO would be communicating with a pilot to resolve a conflict while maintaining attention-focus on the scenario as it unfolds on the display.

Brain Informatics

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

Attentional biases for alcohol cues in heavy and light social drinkers: the roles of initial orienting and maintained attention.

Nature

Some children with ADHD find it hard to maintain attention and focus but aren't particularly hyperactive.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about cognitive functions, use "maintaining attention" to describe the ability to sustain focus over a period of time, especially when differentiating it from other aspects of attention like selective or divided attention.

Common error

Avoid using "maintaining attention" in contexts where simpler terms like "focusing" or "concentrating" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintaining attention" functions primarily as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It refers to the act of sustaining focus or concentration over a period of time. Ludwig AI’s analysis and examples confirm its common use in describing cognitive processes and abilities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

23%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintaining attention" is a common and grammatically correct gerund phrase that refers to sustaining focus over time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's frequently used in scientific, academic, and news contexts. While effective, consider simpler alternatives like "sustaining focus" or "keeping focus" in less formal settings. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the continuous nature of the attentional process you're describing. Remember, clear and precise language is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustaining attention

Focuses on the continuous aspect of attention, similar to "maintaining attention".

keeping focus

Emphasizes the act of holding one's concentration.

sustaining focus

Highlights the ongoing effort to concentrate.

preserving concentration

Indicates an effort to protect one's focus from disruption.

holding attention

Implies capturing and retaining someone's interest or focus.

retaining focus

Suggests keeping one's concentration despite potential distractions.

prolonging concentration

Stresses extending the duration of focus.

focusing continuously

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of concentration.

staying attentive

Highlights the state of being alert and observant over time.

remaining focused

Underscores the act of continuing to concentrate.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintaining attention" to describe the ability to sustain focus on a task or subject over time. For example: "The teacher used interactive activities to help students with "maintaining attention" during the lesson."

What are some alternatives to "maintaining attention"?

Alternatives include "sustaining focus", "keeping focus", or "retaining focus", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Maintaining attention" is a gerund phrase often used as a noun, while "maintain attention" is an infinitive phrase used as a verb. The choice depends on the grammatical structure of your sentence.

What does it mean to have difficulty "maintaining attention"?

Having difficulty "maintaining attention" means struggling to stay focused on a specific task or subject for an extended period, often due to distractions or cognitive impairments.