place attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "place attention" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "pay attention," which is commonly used to indicate focusing one's awareness or concentration on something. Example: "In order to succeed in this class, you must place attention on the lectures and assignments."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A place "Attention, please.

The New Yorker

Bernard spoke to the team owners on the Saturday prior to the Detroit race, and reported that the matter was settled, in an attempt to place attention back on the race, but by that stage, the media had spent Friday and Saturday investigating the coup, rather than previewing the race and the track.

Wikipedia

This instrument contains questions relating to orientation to place, attention, calculation and recall.

BMC Ophthalmology

These included orientation to place, attention and calculation and complex command - writing a sentence of own choice.

BMC Gastroenterology

To be successful, physician practice groups need to place attention on the practical aspects of EHR implementation.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The MMSE was used to evaluate general cognitive function in five domains, including orientation to time and place, attention and calculation, registration, short-term recall, and language.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Which places attention back in the ring, where British boxers were in action this week at the Strandja Cup in Bulgaria.

The Guardian - Sport

For "Spotlight," the absence of style — the style of no style, of a literal-minded and earnest realism that conveys the idea of the story without reaching into its further implications — places attention squarely on what the movie is about.

The New Yorker

In "Cutaways," Kurant switches gears from literature to film, placing attention on work, characters and credits that never make it to the screen.

Huffington Post

However, in addition to lower skillfulness, Swiss nurses also reported less formal training than physicians: placing attention on a training gap between front-line providers, which could explain their lower skillfulness.

BMC Medical Education

"Strengths-based parenting helps them to place their attention on the strengths of their children, on their positive qualities and processes, before they place their attention on the limitations and the weaknesses".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "pay attention" instead of "place attention". "Pay attention" is the idiomatic and grammatically correct way to express the act of focusing on something.

Common error

Avoid using "place attention" as it is not standard English. Remember that "pay attention" is the established phrase for directing focus, while "place" typically refers to physical positioning or abstract assignment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "place attention" functions as a verb phrase where "place" acts as a verb and "attention" as its object. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intention behind the phrase "place attention" is understandable—to direct focus—it is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct and widely accepted phrase is "pay attention". When writing, it's best to avoid "place attention" and opt for its established alternative to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Alternatives such as "focus attention" or "give attention to" may also be appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pay attention

Uses the more common and idiomatic verb "pay" instead of "place" to convey the action of directing one's focus.

give attention to

Employs the verb "give" followed by "attention to", providing a slightly different phrasing.

focus attention on

Replaces "place" with "focus", which directly relates to the act of concentrating.

direct attention to

Substitutes "place" with "direct", emphasizing the act of guiding attention.

turn your attention to

Uses "turn your attention to", indicating a redirection of focus.

concentrate on

Focuses on the act of concentrating, implying a deeper level of attention.

devote attention to

Implies dedicating resources or time to focus on something.

prioritize

Suggests giving something precedence in terms of focus and effort.

emphasize

Highlights the importance of something, urging focus upon it.

heed

Uses the verb "heed", meaning to pay close attention to and consider.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "place attention"?

The correct and idiomatic way to express directing focus is to say "pay attention". This phrase is widely accepted and understood in English.

Are there alternatives to "pay attention"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "focus attention", "give attention to", or "direct attention to", depending on the context.

Why is "place attention" considered incorrect?

"Place attention" is not a recognized idiom in English. The verb "place" doesn't collocate well with "attention" in this context. The standard phrase is "pay attention".

When should I use "pay attention" instead of "place attention"?

Always use "pay attention". "Place attention" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase in English, so it should be avoided.