refer attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refer attention" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
It may be intended to direct someone's focus or awareness to something specific, but the phrasing is awkward. Example: "Please refer attention to the new policy changes in the document."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But if the thing doesn't strike them as an appropriate resting place for their attention, they'll view my drawing their attention to it as a means to some further attentional end, an effort to refer attention onward to some further, ultimately more worthy object.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Monuteaux MC, Fitzmaurice G, Blacker D, Buka SL, Biederman J. Specificity in the familial aggregation of overt and covert conduct disorder symptoms in a referred attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder sample.

Harvard University

Please refer to "Attention Control Mechanism" for more details.

Cognitive Computation

"I think I have A.D.D., but I'm not diagnosed," Fitzgerald said, referring to attention deficit disorder.

The New York Times - Sports

"Every single thing reminds him that he needs to get a hit," Torre said, referring to attention from fans and reporters.

The New York Times - Sports

"They tried to say I had A.D.D., I needed a good night's sleep, you name it," he said, referring to attention deficit disorder.

The New York Times

'Orienting' refers to attention being drawn to an environmental stimulus for focused cognitive processing to the exclusion of other stimuli.

Brain

Attention-grabbing communication tools most obviously refer to the "attention dimension" of relevant knowledge.

European Journal of Futures Research

If Eddy met someone who needed help, he'd distribute a food or hygiene pack, hand out his contact info, and, if they needed further attention, refer them to health organizations.

Huffington Post

From an evolutionary point of view, many of the phenomena that we refer to as attention may have arisen from circuitry that originally implemented direct reward-seeking behaviors, and these neural circuits may still overlap considerably within our own brains, rendering clean distinctions difficult at best.

Plosone

Object-based attention refers to when attentional deployment is guided by object structure rather than only by spatial location, as in the case of spatial attention (e.g., Egly, Driver, & Rafal, 1994).

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "refer attention". Opt for clearer and more common alternatives such as "direct attention" or "draw attention to".

Common error

Don't assume that "refer" is interchangeable with "direct" or "draw" in the context of attention. Using "refer attention" can sound awkward and unnatural to native English speakers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refer attention" functions as a directive, attempting to guide or shift focus. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's not a standard or natural English construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the individual words in the phrase "refer attention" are valid, the combination is not a standard or recommended English construction. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is not correct and provides helpful alternatives, such as "direct attention" or "draw attention to". Analysis of various sources shows that while attempts to use it are rare, you should consider using standard phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Direct attention

Replaces "refer" with the more common verb "direct", making the phrase more grammatically sound.

Draw attention to

Uses the idiomatic expression "draw attention to", which is a standard way of saying to make someone notice something.

Call attention to

Similar to "draw attention to", this phrase emphasizes the act of pointing something out.

Focus attention on

Highlights the act of concentrating on something specific.

Turn your attention to

A more directive phrase, instructing someone to shift their focus.

Bring to your attention

Formal way of introducing something that should be noticed.

Point out

A simpler way to indicate something that needs to be noticed.

Highlight

To emphasize or make something stand out.

Indicate

To show or point out.

Mention

To speak about something briefly.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "refer attention"?

You can use alternatives like "direct attention", "draw attention to", or "call attention to" depending on the context.

Is "refer attention" grammatically correct?

While the words themselves are valid, the phrase "refer attention" is not a standard or widely accepted English construction. It's generally better to use alternatives.

How can I use "draw attention to" in a sentence?

You can use "draw attention to" to highlight something, like "The report aims to draw attention to the urgent need for climate action."

What's the difference between "refer attention" and "direct attention"?

"Direct attention" is a clearer and more grammatically sound way to express the act of pointing someone's focus towards something, whereas "refer attention" is awkward and not commonly used. It is suggested that you use "direct attention" instead.