overly focused on

USAGE SUMMARY

"overly focused on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person or thing that pays too much attention to a certain issue or idea. For example, "The company has been overly focused on increasing profits, while neglecting other important areas of the business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"In getting overly focused on preventing one type of infection, we fail to see the overall picture for patients".

The New York Times - Health

(When they do finally hit the road, he adds, it will be with a career-encompassing set list, not one overly focused on the new material).

Huffington Post

Determine if you are overly focused on what makes this person so different than the previous one.

WikiHow

Another question facing the board is whether the company has become overly focused on China.

The New York Times

"The country has become overly focused on money, money, money," he observed.

The New York Times

They keep me from being too overly focused on the BlackBerry because they will take it away.

The New York Times

As the foundation grew, some supporters felt it had become too glamorous, overly focused on branding, image and public relations.

The New York Times - Sports

And take swipes at established competitors that you believe are overly focused on sending students to top-tier colleges.

The New York Times

They portrayed Soviet science, in contrast, as enslaved to the state, overly focused on technology and driven by ideology.

The Guardian

The book is almost uniformly negative and overly focused on what they consider the Clintons' scandalous past and the darker aspects of Mrs. Clinton's personality.

The New York Times - Books

For his part, Mr. Bloomberg says that he and his staff are not overly focused on the stadium and the broader West Side redevelopment plan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "disproportionately focused on" or "unduly focused on" for nuanced variations in meaning and to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "overly focused on" when the focus is simply intense but appropriate. The phrase implies a negative consequence of the excessive focus, so ensure this is clearly communicated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly focused on" functions as a descriptive element, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate an excessive or disproportionate level of attention or concentration. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe individuals, organizations, or systems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

29%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overly focused on" is a commonly used phrase to express that something or someone is giving too much attention to a particular aspect, potentially neglecting other important areas. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, especially in news, media and science, while in more formal contexts is a less common option. When employing this phrase, consider whether there are alternative ways to express the idea, such as "too focused on" or "disproportionately focused on", and ensure that the context clearly justifies the negative connotation associated with excessive focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively focused on

Direct synonym, indicating an amount of focus that is more than necessary or appropriate.

too focused on

A simpler way of saying that attention is excessive.

inappropriately focused on

Indicates a focus that is not suitable or fitting for the situation.

disproportionately focused on

Highlights an imbalance in attention, where one aspect receives more focus than it warrants.

overly concentrated on

Similar to "overly focused on", but emphasizes a concentration of effort or attention.

extremely focused on

Emphasizes the intensity of focus, suggesting it might be excessive.

overly emphasized on

Indicates that something is given too much importance or stress.

exceedingly focused on

Suggests a focus that goes beyond what is reasonable or necessary.

overtly focused on

Highlights a focus that is very obvious and perhaps intentionally displayed.

unduly focused on

Implies that the focus is inappropriate or unjustified.

FAQs

How to use "overly focused on" in a sentence?

You can use "overly focused on" to describe someone or something that is paying too much attention to a particular aspect, often to the detriment of other important areas. For example, "The government is "overly focused on" economic growth, neglecting environmental concerns".

What can I say instead of "overly focused on"?

You can use alternatives like "too focused on", "disproportionately focused on", or "unduly focused on" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "overly focused on" or "excessively focused on"?

Both ""overly focused on"" and "excessively focused on" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What's the difference between "overly focused on" and "appropriately focused on"?

"Overly focused on" implies that the focus is excessive and potentially harmful, while "appropriately focused on" suggests that the focus is suitable and well-placed. They have opposite connotations.