poor concentration

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence Yes "poor concentration" is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it to refer to an inability to focus on a task or activity for an extended period of time. For example: "She struggled to stay focused on her work due to her poor concentration."

✓ Grammatically correct

Health

Psychology

Education

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Poor concentration: Anxiety can make it difficult to focus.

The Washington Post

Clues to look out for: Fatigue, irritability and poor concentration.

Independent

The symptoms include constriction in the chest, palpitations, anxiety and poor concentration.

The New York Times

It asked if they felt sad, angry, had poor concentration or were tense and nervous.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When Machado scored in the third inning, Leiter blamed poor concentration.

The New York Times - Sports

Then at 12, the pain, headaches and poor concentration and poor grades returned.

The New York Times - Health

'I think my books have a built-in mechanism for eliminating readers with poor concentration.

The Guardian - Books

The symptoms include exhaustion, poor concentration, memory problems, disturbed sleep, and joint and muscle pains.

The Guardian

If I eat badly I have poor concentration and I feel lethargic – and the stopwatch never lies.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

ADHD is characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and other symptoms that are inappropriate for the child's age.

University of California, Berkeley

Dysthymia and major depression naturally have many symptoms in common, including depressed mood, disturbed sleep, low energy, and poor concentration.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing symptoms or conditions, consider the audience and adjust the formality of your language. "Poor concentration" is suitable for general audiences, while "impaired concentration" may be more appropriate for medical or scientific contexts.

Common error

Avoid attributing complex problems solely to "poor concentration". While it may be a symptom, ensure you investigate and address underlying causes such as stress, sleep deprivation, or medical conditions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor concentration" functions as a noun phrase, where "poor" modifies the noun "concentration". It describes a state or condition of reduced ability to focus. Ludwig AI validates its common usage and clear meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poor concentration" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a reduced ability to focus. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across various contexts, from news and media to academic and scientific writing. While seemingly straightforward, it's important to consider the underlying causes of "poor concentration", as it can be a symptom of various issues like stress, sleep deprivation, or underlying medical conditions. When writing, be mindful of your audience and adjust the formality accordingly, using synonyms like "difficulty focusing" or "impaired concentration" as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficulty focusing

Focuses on the active struggle to maintain focus, rather than the state of reduced concentration.

lack of focus

Emphasizes the absence of focus, suggesting a more complete inability to concentrate.

reduced attention span

Highlights the limited duration of attention, a key component of concentration.

impaired concentration

Uses a more formal and clinical tone to describe a diminished ability to concentrate.

difficulty concentrating

Similar to "difficulty focusing" but specifically uses the verb "concentrating."

attention deficit

Suggests a more significant and potentially chronic issue with attention.

scattered attention

Implies attention is dispersed and unfocused, rather than simply diminished.

distractibility

Highlights the ease with which attention is diverted.

inattentiveness

Indicates a general lack of attention to surroundings and tasks.

wandering mind

Suggests the mind is prone to straying from the task at hand.

FAQs

What does "poor concentration" mean?

The term "poor concentration" refers to the diminished ability to focus, maintain attention, or concentrate on tasks or activities.

What are the symptoms associated with "poor concentration"?

Symptoms may include distractibility, forgetfulness, difficulty completing tasks, and mental fatigue. These symptoms can be associated with "attention deficit" or other underlying conditions.

What are some common causes of "poor concentration"?

Common causes can include stress, lack of sleep, anxiety, depression, nutritional deficiencies, and certain medical conditions. Addressing these underlying factors may improve concentration.

What can I say instead of "poor concentration"?

You can use alternatives like "difficulty focusing", "lack of focus", or "reduced attention span" depending on the context.