to bring into focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to bring into focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of clarifying or highlighting a particular issue, idea, or detail. Example: "The report aims to bring into focus the key challenges facing our organization in the coming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

The county can be hard to bring into focus.

Independent

Abdolah wished to bring into focus the "writer" of the Qur'an, a man who was a "dreamer" and "poet".

The Guardian - Books

Amid the merry servants and domestic bustle, Scarlett fails to bring into focus the only two characters who matter, Victor and Elizabeth.

The Guardian

In Margins and Hyphens, we seek to bring into focus how they shape critical positions through the texture of writing itself.

Princeton University

Their memories served as a central device to bring into focus the transformative and experimental aspects of the Chicano movement, and its enduring impacts.

University of California, Berkeley

"The main impact of this remarkable story is to bring into focus the question of why we are so uniquely predisposed to cancer for our size and lifespan - and what we can do to change this".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

These "forgotten" women need to brought into focus, not least to change attitudes towards women in science in the modern world.

The Guardian

It uses Japanese philosophical sources as a lens to bring into sharper focus the qualities and biases of Greek-derived Western philosophy.

Johns Hopkins University

These disasters are an opportunity to bring into clear focus the real issue that lays before us.

Huffington Post

Myopia, or nearsightedness, can be corrected with glasses that have concave lenses to allow near objects to be brought into focus by the eye.

Britannica

The method of claim 1, wherein the screen includes individual regions adapted to be brought into focus and further adapted such that the on-line content can be manipulated within a selected one of the regions.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to bring into focus" when you want to emphasize the act of clarifying an idea, issue, or detail that might be vague or overlooked. It suggests a deliberate effort to make something clearer and more prominent.

Common error

Avoid constructions like "it needs to be brought into focus", which can sound awkward. Instead, opt for active voice: "we need to bring it into focus".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to bring into focus" functions as an infinitive phrase often used adverbially to express purpose or intention. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows its use to introduce the reason for an action or discussion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

23%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to bring into focus" is a versatile infinitive phrase used to express the intention of clarifying or emphasizing a particular aspect. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. While alternatives like "to highlight" or "to clarify" exist, "to bring into focus" uniquely implies a deliberate effort to make something clearer and more prominent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to highlight

This alternative uses a single verb to convey the same meaning of emphasizing something.

to emphasize

Similar to "to highlight", this option directly expresses the act of giving importance to something.

to clarify

This suggests making something easier to understand, which is a component of bringing something into focus.

to shed light on

This idiomatic expression suggests revealing information or making something more understandable.

to draw attention to

This phrase focuses on making something noticeable or prominent.

to put the spotlight on

This idiomatic phrase suggests highlighting something for a specific purpose.

to underscore

This implies emphasizing the importance or significance of something.

to bring to the forefront

This phrase suggests making something more visible or prominent.

to zero in on

This implies focusing closely on a specific detail or aspect.

to elucidate

This formal verb suggests making something clear and understandable through explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "to bring into focus" in a sentence?

You can use "to bring into focus" when you want to clarify an idea or issue. For example, "The report aims "to bring into focus" the key challenges facing the organization."

What are some alternatives to "to bring into focus"?

You can use alternatives like "to highlight", "to emphasize", or "to clarify" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "to bring into focus" or "to focus on"?

While both phrases relate to concentration, "to focus on" is more general. "To bring into focus" implies a need for clarification or emphasis on something previously unclear, whereas "to focus on" simply means to concentrate on something.

What does it mean "to shed light on" something, and is it similar to "to bring into focus"?

"To shed light on" something, similar to "to bring into focus", means "to clarify" or reveal information about it. However, "to bring into focus" is broader and might involve emphasizing an aspect or issue rather than just revealing information.