shifting attention

USAGE SUMMARY

"shifting attention" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a change in focus or topic. For example, "We needed to quickly shift our attention to the matter of the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This resulted in attentional shifting attention towards right hemispace.

Plosone

In fact, the mere presentation of numbers induces a spatial attentional bias depending on the magnitude of the number: low numbers shifting attention to the left and high numbers to the right space [13].

Plosone

This is shifting attention to Mr Miliband's deficiencies as leader.

The Economist

Its longtime ally, the United States, is shifting attention to East Asia.

The New York Times

"Mastery consists precisely in shifting attention from the mechanics of a task to…the task's point".

The New York Times

The apophatic method is probably more effective in shifting attention from the everyday, but harder to achieve.

The New York Times

Mr. Chávez is also shifting attention away from domestic issues, including an increasing number of blackouts and water shortages.

The New York Times

As September ends, investors are shifting attention to profits and losses and whether corporate earnings are signaling a rebound.

The New York Times

D.M., Brooklyn Ms. Rolland responds: You are right to perceive that driving requires not just sustained attention, but selective attention as well as shifting attention.

The New York Times

Moreover, the talk about using force has become a distraction, shifting attention to the Israeli-United States dispute rather than keeping it squarely on Iran.

The New York Times

Accident investigators lessen these odds even further, prosecutors say, by shifting attention away from the culpability of individuals and toward systemic failures in oversight.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shifting attention" when you want to emphasize a deliberate or necessary change in focus from one thing to another.

Common error

While "shifting attention" is versatile, overuse can dilute its impact. In formal contexts, consider stronger verbs or more precise nouns to convey the change in focus with greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shifting attention" typically functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the act of changing or redirecting focus. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, showing its prevalence across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shifting attention" is a grammatically sound and frequently used gerund phrase that describes the act of changing or redirecting focus. Ludwig AI validates its widespread usage across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and formal business communications. While versatile, writers should be mindful of its overuse in formal writing and consider stronger alternatives for clarity. The phrase is best used when emphasizing a deliberate change in focus. Given its prevalence and adaptability, "shifting attention" remains a valuable tool for expressing changes in focus across various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

transferring attention

Replaces "shifting" with "transferring", emphasizing the movement of focus.

altering attention

Uses "altering" instead of "shifting", suggesting a more deliberate change in focus.

switching attention

Replaces "shifting" with "switching", implying a quick change of focus.

redirection of focus

Uses a noun phrase to describe the act of changing focus.

changing focus

A more simplified way to express the idea of altering the attention.

redirecting attention

Uses "redirecting", suggesting steering attention towards a new focus.

refocusing

A more concise way to say bringing the attention to a new focus.

modifying attention

Using "modifying" to highlight the adjustment aspect of attention.

adjusting attention

Replaces "shifting" with "adjusting", emphasizing the fine-tuning of focus.

diverting attention

Replacing "shifting" with "diverting", suggesting a deflection of focus.

FAQs

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

"Shifting attention" is used to describe the act of changing focus. For example, "The speaker was effective in shifting attention from the problem to the potential solutions."

What are some alternatives to "shifting attention"?

You can use alternatives like "transferring attention", "altering attention", or "switching attention" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "shift attention" or "shifting attention"?

Both phrases are correct, but "shifting attention" (gerund) often acts as a noun, while "shift attention" (imperative) is a call to action.

What's the difference between "shifting attention" and "redirecting attention"?

"Shifting attention" generally means changing focus. "Redirecting attention" specifically implies guiding the focus towards something new.