professional preoccupation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "professional preoccupation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong focus or concern related to one's profession or career. Example: "Her professional preoccupation with ethical practices in marketing has led her to advocate for transparency in advertising."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But while such professional preoccupation with privilege can make for interesting sociological fodder, the real issue, warns the author of a courageous essay published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, is that such an overly developed sense of hierarchy comes at an unacceptable price: good patient care.

The New York Times

Scriptwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for his biopic of Harvey Milk, tries to humanise Hoover's unquenchable professional preoccupation by summoning up his reputed double life as a closet case and cross-dresser; the gaudy after-death rumour that was so joyously taken up by the liberal Left, for whom Hoover was such a bête noire.

The Guardian - Film

Although my chief professional preoccupation was politics, the biggest thrill I've ever had in my work was meeting and interviewing Ray Davies, the lead singer of The Kinks and the man who wrote one of the great postwar pop songs Waterloo Sunset, a piece of art that will live on well beyond any policy created by any of the politicians I've met.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As a result, one of his abiding professional preoccupations is with vehicle crashes.

The New York Times - Science

In keeping with its subject's professional and personal preoccupations, it will be "an indictment of my country, of time, of our forgetful, self-centered humanity".

The New York Times - Books

Alex de Betak's holiday home in Majorca is an extraordinary expression of a father's ability to integrate his professional and aesthetic preoccupations into a child-centric family pad.

The New York Times

(Johnson Andy Kaufmanan's 99cent Tour' (through Feb. 24) Organized in conjunction with an exhibition at Maccarone, this series of evening screenings and discussions will present home movies and various Kaufman concerts and shows in their entirety; delve into his record collection; and examine his preoccupation with professional wrestling.

The New York Times - Arts

But the school curriculums simply reflect, from a few light-years' distance, the impersonalist preoccupations of professional historians, among whom various forms of trendology reigned for much of the last 100 years.

The New York Times - Books

Samba speaks of Anzhi with the professional footballer's focused preoccupations, not judging the socio-economics of a billionaire owner, Suleiman Kerimov, funding millionaire wages for top players to entertain the people of Dagestan, a province blighted by poverty and, in October, floods which killed seven people.

The Guardian - Sport

Although he initially intended to study medicine, he quickly turned to the humanities, learning Greek and beginning the systematic analysis of philosophical texts which would come to be the major preoccupation of his professional life.

SEP

They faced many problems and hazards, not least the constant preoccupations with the professional and artistic ethics of reconstructing battle sequences.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "professional preoccupation" when you want to specifically highlight a strong and perhaps persistent focus on matters related to one's career or field of work.

Common error

Avoid using "professional preoccupation" when simply describing a general interest or hobby. This phrase implies a deep-seated focus that significantly impacts one's professional life. For less intense interest use terms like "professional interest".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "professional preoccupation" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately describes a concentrated focus on aspects related to one's profession. Examples in Ludwig showcase its use in describing interests in politics or vehicle crashes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "professional preoccupation" is a noun phrase used to describe a strong and persistent focus on aspects of one's career or professional field. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts. While not overly common, the phrase appears in news, media and scientific contexts. Consider related alternatives like "occupational focus" or "career interest" depending on the desired nuance. Remember, "professional preoccupation" goes beyond general interest, denoting a more intense, sustained concentration that can significantly shape one's work life.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

professional focus

A general term for concentrating on professional duties

occupational focus

Focuses on the work or job as the main area of attention.

professional concern

Focuses on anxieties, problems, worries related to the profession

career interest

Highlights a strong attention towards one's professional development and goals.

job-related obsession

Emphasizes an excessive or intense focus on work, potentially to a negative degree.

career obsession

Highlights a potentially excessive focus on career advancement.

workplace fixation

Indicates a persistent and perhaps unhealthy focus on aspects of the job or work environment.

professional dedication

Suggests commitment and hard work in the professional life.

work-related passion

Highlights a strong enthusiasm and dedication to one's job.

vocational absorption

Indicates complete engrossment in one's work or calling.

FAQs

How can I use "professional preoccupation" in a sentence?

You can use "professional preoccupation" to describe someone's absorbing interest in their field, such as, "Her "professional preoccupation" with data analysis led her to discover groundbreaking trends."

What are some alternatives to "professional preoccupation"?

Depending on the context, you might consider using alternatives like "occupational focus", "career interest", or "professional concern".

Is "professional preoccupation" formal or informal?

The phrase leans towards formal, suitable for professional or academic contexts. For more relaxed settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "obsession" or "interest" depending on the degree of focus.

What's the difference between "professional preoccupation" and "hobby"?

"Professional preoccupation" refers to a strong focus deeply connected to one's career. A "hobby", on the other hand, is a leisure activity and is not directly linked to one's professional life.