trying to concentrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "trying to concentrate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to express difficulty completing a task or activity due to a lack of focus or concentration. For example, "I was studying for the test, but I was having difficulty trying to concentrate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I'm trying to concentrate on hockey".

The New York Times - Sports

Grown tired this hour of trying to concentrate.

The New Yorker

I'm trying to focus and trying to concentrate.

Independent

Throughout the match, I keep trying to concentrate.

The Guardian - Sport

"I am only trying to concentrate on this season.

The New York Times - Sports

I remember being in high school; it was tough enough trying to concentrate on studying.

The New York Times - Magazine

I AM trying to concentrate on American politics during my precious days here.

The Economist

And trying to concentrate when you have all these flying distractions".

The New York Times - Arts

Putting on make-up while you're trying to concentrate on setting up the next shot?

The Guardian - Film

Ordonez said he is trying to concentrate on hitting up the middle and the opposite way.

The New York Times - Sports

Right now, though, I'm just trying to concentrate on playing the best I can".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trying to concentrate", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is attempting to focus on. Provide enough detail to avoid ambiguity. For example, "I am trying to concentrate on finishing this report before the deadline."

Common error

While "trying to concentrate" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound less professional. Substitute with stronger verbs like "focusing", "endeavoring", or "striving" to add variety and sophistication to your prose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to concentrate" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase to describe an ongoing effort to focus. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trying to concentrate" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes the act of attempting to focus one's attention. Ludwig AI affirms its validity, and our analysis shows it's prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While versatile, writers should be mindful of overuse in formal writing and consider stronger verb alternatives like "focusing" or "endeavoring". Remember that "trying to concentrate" simply indicates the act of making an effort to focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to focus

Focuses on the attempt to direct one's attention.

endeavoring to concentrate

Emphasizes the effort being made to focus.

striving to focus

Highlights the struggle involved in maintaining focus.

working to concentrate

Indicates ongoing effort to improve focus.

seeking to concentrate

Suggests an active pursuit of focus.

aiming to concentrate

Implies a deliberate intention to focus.

making an effort to concentrate

Highlights the exertion involved.

finding it hard to concentrate

Emphasizes the difficulty in focusing.

struggling to concentrate

Implies a challenging situation regarding focusing abilities.

trying to stay focused

Shifts the emphasis to maintaining focus over time.

FAQs

What does "trying to concentrate" mean?

The phrase "trying to concentrate" means making an effort to focus your attention or mental effort on a particular task, subject, or activity.

What can I say instead of "trying to concentrate"?

You can use alternatives like "attempting to focus", "endeavoring to concentrate", or "striving to focus" depending on the context.

How to use "trying to concentrate" in a sentence?

You can use "trying to concentrate" to describe your own actions (e.g., "I am trying to concentrate on my work") or someone else's (e.g., "She is trying to concentrate on her studies").

What is the difference between "trying to concentrate" and "struggling to concentrate"?

"Trying to concentrate" simply indicates an effort to focus, while "struggling to concentrate" suggests that the effort is difficult and may not be successful.