shifted their focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shifted their focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a change in attention or priorities, often in a professional or academic context. Example: "After reviewing the initial results, the team shifted their focus to improving user experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Scientists have shifted their focus to the Eastern tent caterpillar.

The New York Times - Sports

The White House and the Federal Reserve shifted their focus.

The New York Times

Not surprisingly, advocates of change shifted their focus increasingly to flight safety.

The New York Times - Travel

Republicans have shifted their focus from assailing the nuclear deal to assailing Mrs. Clinton.

The New York Times

Agents have already shifted their focus toward battling terrorism and away from traditional crime-busting duties.

The New York Times

But, in 2016, radio playlists are bursting with guitar music and festivals have shifted their focus.

The Guardian - Music

But they recently shifted their focus to political demands, including the right to form independent parties.

The New York Times

Gangs shifted their focus from robbing drink shops to robbing banks.

The Economist

Many similar apps have failed to take off, or have shifted their focus.

The New York Times

Mills were automated, for example, and shifted their focus to smaller lengths of lumber.

The Economist

In recent days, many analysts shifted their focus to Google's situation in China.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shifted their focus" when you want to emphasize a deliberate change in attention or priorities by a group or organization. It implies a conscious decision to concentrate on something different.

Common error

Avoid using "shifted their focus" in a passive construction (e.g., "focus was shifted"). Active voice makes the sentence more direct and highlights who made the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shifted their focus" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating a change in the direction of attention or effort. Ludwig confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shifted their focus" is a versatile and commonly used expression to describe a change in priorities or attention. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in a wide range of contexts, particularly in news media, academia, and business. When using this phrase, ensure that it is in the active voice to clearly indicate who or what made the shift. Consider alternatives like "redirected their attention" or "changed their emphasis" for stylistic variation. Understanding its function and usage patterns will enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

redirected their attention

Focus is changed to attention. This alternative emphasizes the act of pointing attention in a new direction.

changed their emphasis

Focus is replaced with emphasis. This highlights a change in what is being stressed or prioritized.

altered their perspective

Focus replaced with perspective. This implies a change in viewpoint or outlook.

adjusted their strategy

Focus is replaced with strategy, suggesting a shift in planned actions to achieve a goal.

reoriented their efforts

Focus is replaced with efforts, suggesting a change in the direction of work or exertion.

modified their approach

Focus is replaced with approach, which implies a change in method or way of dealing with something.

switched their priorities

Focus is replaced with priorities, which directly refers to a change in what is most important.

adapted their goals

Focus is replaced with goals, suggesting a change in desired outcomes or objectives.

pivoted their operations

Focus is replaced with operations. This alternative suggests a change in the actions or processes.

recalibrated their objectives

Focus is replaced with objectives. This alternative suggests a change in aims.

FAQs

How can I use "shifted their focus" in a sentence?

You can use "shifted their focus" to describe a change in priorities or attention, for example: "The company "shifted their focus" to sustainability after the new regulations were introduced."

What can I say instead of "shifted their focus"?

You can use alternatives like "redirected their attention", "changed their emphasis", or "altered their perspective" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "shifted their focus" in formal writing?

Yes, "shifted their focus" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to describe a change in priorities or attention, as shown by Ludwig.

What's the difference between "shifted their focus" and "changed their mind"?

"Shifted their focus" implies a change in priorities or attention, often by a group, while "changed their mind" refers to an individual altering their opinion or decision.