to indicate attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to indicate attention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the act of drawing someone's focus or awareness to something specific. Example: "The teacher raised her hand to indicate attention before starting the lesson."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

MMN is usually accompanied by the P3 (or P300) component, which has been interpreted to indicate attention switching to a change in the stimulus.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They frequently evoke Chagall or Dufy, indicate attention to Cubism and Expressionism or sometimes depict women wearing Werkstätte fashions.

The New York Times - Arts

Their subtle distortions and quieter surfaces may indicate attention to Matisse's bronzes from two decades earlier, but their everyday poses seem more typical of Degas.

The New York Times - Arts

The remaining nodes of the network in the dentate nucleus and the right posterior cerebellum probably indicate attention and sensory learning [40].

Plosone

The cue was displaced either toward or away from the RF, at a distance from the FP of one-quarter of the eccentricity of the neuron's RF to indicate whether attention should be directed toward or away from the stimulus presented in the RF, respectively.

Cerebral Cortex

"Having trouble concentrating in class" and "Can not manage to be calm in class" indicating attention problems, and "Arguing with the teacher", "Having fistfights" and "Getting scolded by the teacher" indicating conduct problems.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

A positive response to either of the items on attention or behavior problems indicated attention or behavior problems at school.

BMC Psychiatry

Specifically, we used eye fixation's duration to indicate operator's attention and developed a new computational model for the attention and its allocation using fuzzy logics clustering techniques.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

"Sometimes, it" — a bee attack — "just indicates attention from the ancestor, if for some reason there is something you need to do".

The New Yorker

Furthermore, an expressive face indicating attention [45] and imitating the face of a user [46] makes a robot more compelling to interact with.

Plosone

"There is research that indicates attention span actually increases with gaming.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to indicate attention", ensure the context clearly shows what action or signal is meant to capture or direct focus. For example, specify the method of indication, such as "to indicate attention, she raised her hand".

Common error

While "to indicate attention" is generally acceptable, avoid using it in highly informal contexts where simpler phrases like "to show" or "to point out" might be more appropriate. Choose vocabulary fitting the tone and audience of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to indicate attention" functions primarily as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it connects an action with the intention of signaling or directing focus. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to indicate attention" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express the purpose of signaling or directing focus, suitable for neutral to formal contexts. Ludwig's examples reveal that the phrase appears frequently in scientific and news sources, while also being present in general usage. The related phrases offer several alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's acceptability. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes how attention is being directed and adjust the formality to suit your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to signify focus

Replaces "attention" with "focus" and "indicate" with "signify", emphasizing the act of making focus known.

to signal attentiveness

Changes the noun "attention" to the adjective "attentiveness", shifting the focus to a state of being.

to denote awareness

Substitutes "attention" with "awareness" and "indicate" with "denote", highlighting the act of signaling consciousness.

to mark concentration

Replaces "attention" with "concentration" emphasizing mental focus and "indicate" with "mark", which frames attention as a sign.

to imply heedfulness

Replaces "attention" with the somewhat more formal "heedfulness", conveying careful attention.

to suggest scrutiny

Swaps "attention" for "scrutiny", which implies a more detailed and critical focus.

to represent observation

Changes "attention" to "observation", focusing on the act of watching and noticing.

to intimate interest

Replaces "attention" with "interest" and "indicate" with "intimate", suggesting a subtle signal of attention.

to betray vigilance

Replaces "attention" with "vigilance", a state of watchfulness, implying a heightened level of focus.

to evidence consideration

Substitutes "attention" with "consideration", shifting the emphasis to careful thought and deliberation.

FAQs

How can I use "to indicate attention" in a sentence?

Use "to indicate attention" when you want to show that a specific action, cue, or symbol is meant to signal or direct focus. For example: "The flashing lights were used "to indicate attention" to the emergency exit".

What are some alternatives to "to indicate attention"?

You can use alternatives like "to signify focus", "to signal attentiveness", or "to denote awareness" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "to indicate attention" and "to draw attention"?

"To indicate attention" suggests a more deliberate and specific signaling of focus, while "to draw attention" is a broader phrase that can refer to simply attracting notice, not necessarily directing it in a particular way.

Which is more formal, "to indicate attention" or "to get someone's attention"?

"To indicate attention" is generally more formal than "to get someone's attention", which is more conversational. The choice depends on the overall tone of your writing or speech.