restrict attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "restrict attention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe limiting the focus of one's awareness. For example, "The teacher asked students to restrict their attention to the task at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is why we restrict attention to longer debt overhang periods in the JEP paper, though as noted there are only a very limited number of short ones.

The New York Times

For our analysis, we restrict attention to men7.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

For simplicity, we restrict attention to finite impulse-response models.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Then it is reasonable to restrict attention to general pre-structures that are closed under definability.

SEP

There is no reason to restrict attention to primitive connectives in making such comparisons.

SEP

We restrict attention to the non-agricultural business sector and workers aged between 20 and 64.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

We restrict attention to a comparison of individuals in the categories "Self-Pay" and "Private Insurance".

Health Economics Review

In what follows, I will restrict attention to parameter values for which the solutions are interior.

SERIEs

We restrict attention to incentive contracts that are linear in the performance measures.

Business Research

In this work, we restrict attention to the one-dimensional situation.

Journal de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées

We restrict attention to the demand side, in the spirit of LeRoy and Sonstelie (1983) and Glaeser et al. (2008).

Latin American Economic Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "restrict attention", clearly state the specific area or subject to which attention is being limited to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "restrict attention" without specifying the new, narrower focus. Vague restrictions can confuse readers. Instead of saying "We will restrict attention", specify "We will restrict attention to the economic impact of the policy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "restrict attention" functions as a directive, commonly used to limit the scope of analysis or discussion. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage across diverse fields, including economics, science, and policy, highlighting its versatility in academic and professional contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Unknown

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "restrict attention" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to narrow the focus of discussion or analysis. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most commonly found in scientific and academic contexts, indicating a formal register. When using "restrict attention", ensure that the scope to which attention is being limited is clearly defined for clarity and precision. Related phrases such as "limit focus" or "narrow scope" can provide alternative options for expressing similar ideas with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limit focus

Focus is now explicitly mentioned, implying a directed limitation.

narrow scope

Scope emphasizes the breadth of consideration being reduced.

confine to

Expresses a boundary or enclosure, implying restriction within that boundary.

focus exclusively on

Highlights the act of concentrating solely on something, eliminating other considerations.

concentrate solely on

Similar to focusing exclusively, but may imply more effortful concentration.

limit oneself to

Adds a reflexive aspect, emphasizing a deliberate self-restriction.

pay attention exclusively to

Emphasizes the act of giving attention, with exclusivity.

be selective about

Indicates making deliberate choices about what to focus on.

prioritize only

Implies ranking and then focusing solely on the highest priority.

attend solely to

Uses the verb "attend" to convey focusing exclusively on something.

FAQs

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

You can use "restrict attention" to indicate limiting the focus to a specific subject or area. For example, "Let's restrict our attention to the primary causes of the problem."

What are some alternatives to using "restrict attention"?

You can use alternatives like "limit focus", "narrow scope", or "confine to" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "restrict attention to" or "focus on"?

Both are correct, but "restrict attention to" implies a deliberate narrowing of focus, while "focus on" is a more general term for directing attention.

What's the difference between "restrict attention" and "regulate attention"?

"Restrict attention" means to limit the scope of focus, while "regulate attention" means to control or manage how attention is directed.