redirect attention

USAGE SUMMARY

"redirect attention" is a perfectly acceptable phrase that can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the process of guiding or turning someone's attention away from one thing to something else. For example: "The teacher redirected her students' attention to the lesson at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

For Telstra, the Olympics are a chance to redirect attention from its business fortunes to its technical prowess.

The New York Times

According to The Washington Post's Dana Milbank, Romney campaign senior adviser Ed Gillespie tried "to redirect attention … to Obama's 'Chicago-style' crony politics" during a Tuesday conference call.

The New York Times

But he clearly wanted to redirect attention from Monday's circus, in which Sprewell did not appear at his own news conference and later lashed out at the team's management.

The New York Times - Sports

During the 2012 G.O.P. primaries, Herman Cain echoed Clarence Thomas's language about high-tech lynching in a futile attempt to redirect attention from the charges of serial sexual harassment against him.

The New Yorker

In a further development, reported by Minivan News, it was claimed that the discovery of the coconut was being used by President Mohamed Waheed's Gaumee Ihthihad Party (GIP) to "redirect attention away from the other political parties to gain votes".

Independent

And the media's sustained examination of that crisis has made it difficult for church leaders to redirect attention toward the church's concern for economic justice, its ministry to the needy and the extraordinary work that many of the church's servants perform on those fronts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Such costs arise at various levels and processes including physiological costs for storing information [18], for gaze movements and redirecting attention [19], or for perceptual or attentional processing [20].

Plosone

Mr Kennedy redirected attention from public sector workers to the recipients of the public services.

The Guardian

It would be ironic indeed if Armstrong, medical victim and sporting hero to many, had inadvertently redirected attention from laboratories to hospitals.

The New Yorker

There's a trove of research suggesting that it's best to tackle negative behaviors obliquely, by redirecting attention toward different, positive ones.

The New York Times

The publication in the autumn of the long-awaited life of Golding by John Carey, Britain's premier literary critic, will hopefully work, as biographical spotlights can, by redirecting attention to the work.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "redirect attention" when you want to emphasize a deliberate shift of focus from one subject to another, especially in situations where the original focus is undesirable or less important.

Common error

Avoid using "redirect attention" when the goal is simply to provide additional information without detracting from the original subject. In such cases, "also consider" or "in addition" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "redirect attention" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It describes the action of changing the direction of focus from one subject to another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "redirect attention" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of shifting focus from one subject to another. Ludwig AI affirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various domains. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, the phrase serves the purpose of changing where the focus lies. While versatile, it’s important to be aware of the potential for misuse, especially when a more direct approach might be necessary. Alternatives such as "divert attention" or "refocus attention" offer similar meanings with subtle differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divert attention

Suggests drawing attention away, potentially in a deceptive manner.

shift focus

A more concise way of saying 'redirect attention'.

refocus attention

Implies bringing attention back to something after it has wandered.

reorient attention

Highlights the act of changing the direction of focus.

turn attention

Indicates changing the direction of focus to a different subject or aspect.

reallocate attention

Suggests redistributing focus among multiple items.

redirect interest

Implies changing where curiosity or engagement is directed.

draw attention elsewhere

Emphasizes attracting focus away from the current subject.

redirect emphasis

Focuses on changing the point of importance rather than attention itself.

devote attention

Emphasizes dedicating focus rather than diverting it from something else.

FAQs

How can I use "redirect attention" in a sentence?

You can use "redirect attention" to indicate a deliberate shift of focus, as in "The politician tried to "redirect attention" from the scandal by announcing a new initiative".

What phrases are similar to "redirect attention"?

Similar phrases include "divert attention", "refocus attention", and "reorient attention", each with slight differences in nuance.

Is it always appropriate to "redirect attention"?

While "redirect attention" is grammatically correct, it's crucial to consider the context. Sometimes, directly addressing an issue is more ethical than trying to "redirect attention" elsewhere.

What is the difference between "redirect attention" and "focus attention"?

"Focus attention" means to concentrate on something, while "redirect attention" means to shift the concentration from one thing to another. The former is about concentration; the latter is about change in focus.