to attend to

USAGE SUMMARY

'to attend to' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe taking care of a task or situation. For example, "I need to attend to some paperwork before I can go to lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are so many details to attend to!

Vice

I had to attend to his affairs".

The New Yorker

"So we have to attend to competitiveness".

The Economist

He had business to attend to.

The Guardian - Sport

She had business to attend to.

The New York Times - Magazine

We got other things to attend to.

The Guardian

She has a lot to attend to.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We have other things to attend to.

The New York Times - Sports

Fonteyn went off to attend to domestic problems.

The New Yorker

Their elites had slaves to attend to their needs.

The Economist

Sunday, with dozens of details to attend to.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to attend to" when you want to convey the idea of actively dealing with, managing, or taking care of something. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While generally acceptable, consider more precise verbs like "manage", "address", or "resolve" in highly formal writing to convey nuances of responsibility or action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to attend to" functions primarily as an infinitive verb phrase. It describes the action of dealing with, managing, or taking care of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to attend to" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey the action of managing, taking care of, or dealing with something. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability across various contexts. Its neutral register and widespread presence in sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and scientific journals make it a reliable choice for expressing the intention or need to address a specific task or responsibility. While alternatives like "to take care of" or "to deal with" may be suitable in certain contexts, "to attend to" remains a clear and effective option for many writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to take care of

Focuses on the act of providing care or managing something.

to deal with

Emphasizes the action of handling or managing a situation or task.

to look after

Highlights the responsibility of overseeing and caring for something.

to see to

Implies ensuring that something is done or taken care of.

to manage

Focuses on controlling or organizing resources or tasks.

to handle

Highlights the act of controlling or managing a task, situation or person.

to address

Emphasizes directly dealing with an issue or problem.

to listen to

Shifts the focus to paying attention to someone or something.

to give attention to

Underscores the act of focusing one's awareness on something.

to focus on

Emphasizes concentrating one's efforts or thoughts.

FAQs

How can I use "to attend to" in a sentence?

You can use "to attend to" to indicate taking care of something, as in "I have several emails "to attend to" this morning" or "The doctor will "to attend to" your needs".

What are some alternatives to "to attend to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "to take care of", "to deal with", or "to look after".

Is it better to say "attend to" or "take care of"?

"Attend to" and "take care of" are often interchangeable, but "attend to" can imply a more immediate or professional duty, while "take care of" can have a broader sense of responsibility or nurturing.

What's the difference between "to attend to" and "to pay attention to"?

"To attend to" implies action and management, like handling a task, while "to pay attention to" means to focus one's awareness or listening skills on something.