prefer focus on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prefer focus on" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be rephrased to "prefer to focus on" for proper usage. Example: "I prefer to focus on the main objectives of the project rather than getting sidetracked by minor details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you're running errands or going somewhere else your child won't prefer, focus on any small enjoyable aspects of the trip like riding in the shopping cart or getting a lollipop at the doctor's office.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Consequently, they prefer focusing on exams and grades as their motivational basis and are satisfied with the situation (Nowell, 2007).

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Believes Chinese market highly speculative, prefers focus on long term.

Forbes

Hannah, the intellectual, wants to believe that knowledge will impose order and prefers focusing on fixing present misery to worrying about the apocalypse.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Irani favored pushing the company's operations in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iraq, while Mr. Chazen preferred focusing on domestic operations in California, North Dakota and Texas.

The New York Times

Instead they prefer to focus on tactics.

The Economist

Mussina would prefer to focus on whatever positives remain.

The New York Times - Sports

The makers of "Infamous" prefer to focus on that example.

The New Yorker

The organisers prefer to focus on the positives.

The Guardian

"I much prefer to focus on our common humanity".

The New Yorker

Many economists prefer to focus on nominal GDP growth.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "prefer to focus on" for grammatical correctness. For example: "I prefer to focus on the main objectives."

Common error

Avoid using "prefer focus on". Always include the infinitive "to" between "prefer" and "focus". The correct form is "prefer to focus on".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prefer focus on" functions as a verb phrase intended to express a preference for concentrating on something. However, it's grammatically incomplete. As Ludwig AI indicates, the infinitive "to" is missing between “prefer” and “focus”.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "prefer focus on" might seem like a straightforward way to express a preference for concentrating on something, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "prefer to focus on". As Ludwig AI points out, including the infinitive "to" is essential for grammatical accuracy. This phrase is relatively rare and is found across various contexts, including news media, wiki, and science. For alternative expressions, consider using phrases like "prefer concentrating on" or "would rather focus on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prefer to focus on

Adds the infinitive "to" for grammatical correctness, making it a standard way to express preference.

prefer concentrating on

Uses the gerund form of "concentrate", providing a more direct alternative.

would rather focus on

Expresses preference using "would rather", implying a specific choice.

favor focusing on

Replaces "prefer" with "favor", which has a slightly more formal tone.

lean towards focusing on

Indicates a tendency or inclination to focus on something.

preferentially focus on

Adds emphasis on the preference with the adverb "preferentially".

choose to focus on

Emphasizes the act of choosing to concentrate on something specific.

opt to focus on

Similar to "choose", but suggests a deliberate selection from available options.

prioritize focusing on

Highlights the act of giving something higher priority.

are inclined to focus on

Suggests a natural tendency to concentrate on something without being a firm decision.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "prefer to focus on" in a sentence?

The phrase "prefer to focus on" should be followed by the subject you want to concentrate on. For example, "I "prefer to focus on" the main objectives of the project" or "They "prefer to focus on" long-term goals".

Is "prefer to focus on" formal or informal?

"Prefer to focus on" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

What are some alternatives to "prefer to focus on"?

Alternatives include "favor focusing on", "would rather focus on", and "opt to focus on". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Which is correct, "prefer focus on" or "prefer to focus on"?

"Prefer to focus on" is the grammatically correct form. "Prefer focus on" omits the infinitive "to", making it grammatically incorrect.