sent to the attention of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sent to the attention of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in formal correspondence to direct a message or document to a specific person or department. Example: "Please send the report to the attention of the finance manager for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Citizens Committee for Children, 105 East 22 Street, NY, NY 10010 or to the Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53 Street, NY, NY 10019 and sent to the attention of their Directors.

The New York Times

This book, written a decade earlier and sent to the attention of then-prince Philip II of Spain, contained accounts of the abuses committed by some Spaniards against Native Americans during the early stages of colonization.

Wikipedia

At the beginning of the study a personalized letter will be sent to the attention of the centre administrators, requesting their collaboration and providing a copy of the study protocol.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Heimerich told us, essentially, that the C&D letters were sent to get the attention of hacker academies and learn to code platforms, and that the BPPE does not expect to hand out any fines or close down any schools in the near future.

TechCrunch

A near-identical letter was sent to the Kremlin, for the attention of Leonid Brezhnev, general secretary of the Communist party of the Soviet Union.

The Guardian

But it was the administration's admission that computerized police data cannot be effectively sent to the Education Department that gripped the attention of many city lawmakers, including the Council Speaker, Gifford Miller, who presided over the hearings, and Eva S. Moskowitz, the chairwoman of the Education Committee, who asked why safety data for individual schools was not readily available.

The New York Times

Just like that, your attention was snatched from an authoritative site (mayoclinic.com) and sent to the website of the imposter.

TechCrunch

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to The Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center at San Diego State University, Attention Gwen Notestine, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92123-8045.

The New York Times

Each day, just over 100 children between the ages of two and five are sent to the centre, where they sing, draw and get important medical attention, including vaccinations.

Unicef

Seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana were sent to the International Space Station in the "Cervantes Mission" (Spanish Soyuz Mission).

Advances in Space Research

The survey, which was sent electronically to the attention of the Heads of RO programmes in Ontario, began with a brief set of instructions, and information regarding the scope of peer review addressed in the survey.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sent to the attention of", ensure the recipient's name or department is clearly and accurately stated to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "sent to the attention of" in informal communication; opt for simpler phrases like "for" or "to" followed by the recipient's name.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sent to the attention of" serves as a prepositional phrase that directs mail or correspondence to a specific individual or department within an organization. As Ludwig explains, it's a formal way to specify the intended recipient, ensuring the message reaches the right person even if sent to a general address.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sent to the attention of" is a prepositional phrase used to direct correspondence to a specific recipient within an organization. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and most appropriate for formal or professional contexts, it's not suitable for casual conversations. Key alternatives include "addressed to" and "for the attention of". When using this phrase, ensure accuracy in specifying the intended recipient's name or department. Though not exceptionally common, its proper use ensures efficient communication in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the attention of

Indicates the intended recipient in a formal manner; very similar in meaning but uses slightly different phrasing.

addressed to

Specifies the intended recipient directly; emphasizes the act of directing something.

directed to

Emphasizes the action of directing something towards a specific recipient.

to the office of

Directs something to a specific office or department.

care of

Often used for mail delivery, indicating a temporary or indirect recipient.

submitted to

Implies a formal submission process to a specific person or department.

to the desk of

Indicates something is meant for a specific person's workspace.

to the inbox of

Specifically for electronic communications like emails.

forwarded to

Indicates that something was initially sent elsewhere but then redirected.

channeled to

Suggests a more indirect or mediated route to the recipient.

FAQs

What does "sent to the attention of" mean?

The phrase "sent to the attention of" indicates that a message, document or package should be delivered to a specific person or department within an organization. It ensures that the item reaches the intended recipient, even if it's sent to a general address.

When is it appropriate to use "sent to the attention of"?

Use "sent to the attention of" in formal correspondence, such as business letters, official documents, or when sending something to a large organization where direct delivery might be uncertain. It's less appropriate in casual communication.

What are some alternatives to "sent to the attention of"?

Alternatives include "addressed to", "for the attention of", or simply specifying the recipient's name and title if known.

Is it necessary to use "sent to the attention of" if I have the recipient's direct address?

If you have the recipient's direct address, including their name and specific office, it's often not necessary to use "sent to the attention of". However, it can still be useful in large organizations or when you want to ensure the item is handled by a specific person, even if they're not the ultimate recipient.