request attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "request attention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to politely express that you need someone's attention. For example, "I would like to request your attention for a moment so I can explain the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

For video communication, the audio board waits for the video board to request attention.

Cornell University

Other than this, it's always best to wait for the cat to request attention, because, as you've probably guessed by now, they're not always in the mood.

The Guardian - Opinion

As an aide to Kerry, she advocated for constituents who didn't typically get — or even request — attention from Washington's most powerful.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

An important observation requests attention: Designed Experiments will provide de best levels for the variables included in the study, but these levels are not necessarily the optimum ones.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

The scientific council requested attention for normative foresights including a variety of values and perspectives (Van Asselt et al., 2010).

Environmental Science and Policy

"Good theater requests your attention; it requests your mind and your heart," she said, the wisps of a Southern accent hanging on each word.

The New York Times

Gov. Sonny Perdue has declared a state of emergency in 17 counties and pleaded for federal aid to President Obama, who promised to give the request prompt attention.

The New York Times

He still has enough of Iowa in him to request singers' attention in rehearsal rather than demand it.

The New York Times - Arts

Since these are creatures who have already hovered perilously over the audience in midair -- rather like the falling chandelier in that earlier gothic musical "The Phantom of the Opera" -- it seems unwise to ignore their request for attention.

The New York Times

Even with his wimpy DSL connection, pages are rendered quickly enough once the website's servers (and all the other computers along the route, plus those used to host adverts, graphics and miscellaneous layout bits) start giving his browser's request some attention.

The Economist

Parents were advised to play with their children and "request their attention to a few moral and judicious observations explanatory of each Character as they proceed & contrast the happiness of a Virtuous & well spent life with the fatal consequences arriving from Vicious & Immoral pursuits".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "request attention" when you want to politely and formally ask someone to focus on a specific matter. It's suitable for professional communication and academic writing.

Common error

While "request attention" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Consider using simpler alternatives like "Can I talk to you?" or "Hey, look at this" in informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "request attention" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Science

25%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "request attention" is a grammatically sound phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that serves to politely direct someone's focus. While versatile, it's most at home in professional, academic, and journalistic settings due to its formal tone. For informal situations, simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. Keep in mind that alternatives such as "seek attention", "ask for attention", and "call for attention" offer nuanced ways to express the need for focus, depending on the context. Usage data from Ludwig indicates that the phrase is most frequently found in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ask for attention

A more direct and straightforward way of requesting someone's focus.

need attention

A simple and direct way of stating that something requires focus or care.

seek attention

Focuses on the act of trying to gain attention, implying a more active pursuit.

require attention

Emphasizes the necessity of focus due to a particular need or issue.

call for attention

Implies a need to draw attention to a specific issue or problem.

draw attention

Highlights the act of making something noticeable or prominent.

merit attention

Highlights that something deserves to be noticed or considered.

warrant attention

Similar to 'merit attention', indicating that something is worthy of focus.

invite attention

Suggests a more subtle or passive way of attracting someone's focus.

demand attention

Indicates a forceful or insistent request for focus, often due to urgency or importance.

FAQs

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

You can use "request attention" to politely ask someone to focus on something, such as "I would like to "request your attention" for a moment so I can explain the situation".

What are some alternatives to "request attention"?

Alternatives include "seek attention", "ask for attention", or "call for attention", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "request attention" or "demand attention"?

"Request attention" is polite and formal, while "demand attention" implies a forceful or insistent need for focus, which may not always be appropriate.

When is it appropriate to use "request attention" in writing?

It's appropriate in professional emails, academic papers, or formal reports where you need to politely direct someone's focus to a specific issue or task.