remain on task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "remain on task" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to encourage someone to stay focused on their work or responsibilities. Example: "During the meeting, it's important to remain on task to ensure we cover all agenda items efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The needed intervention, then, is a conversation with the students to understand the root of behavior and create systems that support those students to remain on task.

Columbia University

"Personnel who are essential to supporting operations will remain on task regardless of this leave period and there will be no impact to the mission in Afghanistan".

BBC

Many times there are multiple tactical goals and objectives identified, but it is up to the Leadership team to remain on task and define the single, qualitative focus that is shared among them as the top priority.

Forbes

"When we are interrupted, our interrupted task needs to remain open, which is demanding, and we need to make a decision about whether to attend to the interruption or remain on task," she says.

Forbes

Researchers are also examining how digital media can inhibit studying, however, and Rosen et al. (2013) found middle-school, high-school, and undergraduate students were unable to remain on task for even 6 min before being tempted by Facebook or texting when studying at home.

International Journal of STEM Education

Why shouldn't I have said something that makes people think about why they blame girls for distracting boys instead of boys for lacking the self-control to remain on task?" And that's how you make a memorable exit from high school.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

People with ADHD will tend to go "off-task" independent of the reinforcement lost because the effort to remain "on-task" requires energy resources that are no longer available to them.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Typically, the IA students would be off-task at the very beginning of the activity (i.e., a delay in engaging with the activity); however, once they started the activity they generally remained on-task.

CBE Life Sciences Education

MacGyver, by contrast, always remained on task.

The New York Times

The seeded women remained on task today.

The New York Times - Sports

Instructors should work with students to establish protocols for asking questions, projecting and enunciating when speaking, remaining on task during group work, and use of mobile phones and laptops.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To help yourself "remain on task", break down large projects into smaller, manageable steps. This makes the overall goal less daunting and allows you to maintain focus more easily.

Common error

Avoid using "remain on task" when the situation requires flexibility or adaptation. Sometimes, unexpected issues arise, and rigidly sticking to the original plan can be counterproductive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remain on task" functions as a directive or instruction, primarily urging someone to maintain focus and continue with their current activity. Examples from Ludwig show it used in contexts ranging from classroom management to professional settings. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

27%

Science

23%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "remain on task" is a phrase used to emphasize the importance of maintaining focus and continuing with assigned activities. It is grammatically correct and, according to Ludwig AI, usable in written English. While the phrase is not overly common, its use is distributed across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. To ensure you "remain on task", break down the projects into smaller steps. Effective alternatives include "stay focused" and "keep on track". Remember that sticking to the original plan too rigidly can be counterproductive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay focused

This alternative uses a different verb to convey the same idea of maintaining concentration.

keep on track

This phrase emphasizes the idea of following a planned course of action without deviation.

maintain focus

This alternative is more formal and highlights the act of preserving one's concentration.

stay on course

Similar to "keep on track", this phrase suggests adhering to a specific path or objective.

persevere

This single-word alternative stresses the importance of persistence in completing a task.

continue working

This is a more straightforward alternative emphasizing the continuation of effort.

proceed with the task

This phrase is slightly more formal and emphasizes the action of moving forward with a specific task.

dedicate attention

This alternative highlights the allocation of mental resources to the task at hand.

hold attention

This emphasizes maintaining attentiveness throughout the task duration.

be attentive

This suggestion is about paying attention while doing some task.

FAQs

How can I use "remain on task" in a sentence?

You can use "remain on task" to encourage focus, such as, "It's crucial to "stay focused" and "remain on task" during the project's final phase".

What is a good alternative to "remain on task"?

Alternatives include "keep on track", "stay focused", or "maintain focus", depending on the specific context.

What does it mean to "remain on task"?

To "remain on task" means to "continue working" diligently on the assigned activity, avoiding distractions and staying focused on the objective.

Is there a difference between "remain on task" and "stay on task"?

The phrases "remain on task" and "stay on task" are largely interchangeable. Both emphasize the importance of "dedicating attention" and avoiding getting sidetracked from the current activity.