trying to focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trying to focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an effort to concentrate on a task or thought. Example: "I'm trying to focus on my studies, but the noise outside is distracting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm trying to focus.

The New York Times - Sports

We're just trying to focus.

The New York Times - Sports

We are trying to focus on ourselves.

Independent

"We're just trying to focus on this".

The New York Times - Sports

I guess he's trying to focus.

The New York Times - Sports

Were trying to focus on playing Houston".

The New York Times - Sports

"We're trying to focus on commonalities.

The New York Times

This is what we're trying to focus on.

The Guardian

I'm trying to focus and trying to concentrate.

Independent

"He's just trying to focus on his season.

The New York Times

Now we're just trying to focus on the playing side.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trying to focus" when you want to convey an active effort to concentrate, especially when facing distractions or difficulties. It implies a conscious attempt to maintain attention.

Common error

Avoid using "trying to focus" when the action of focusing is already achieved. The phrase implies an ongoing effort, not a completed state of concentration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to focus" functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as a verb complement or part of a verb phrase to describe an ongoing effort. It indicates a process rather than a completed action. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trying to focus" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to describe an ongoing effort to concentrate. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to academic writing. The phrase is particularly useful when conveying the challenges or difficulties in maintaining attention. When using this phrase, be mindful of its implication of effort rather than achievement. For alternatives, consider phrases like "attempting to concentrate" or "seeking to concentrate", but always consider the specific context to ensure accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to concentrate

Emphasizes the effort or attempt being made.

seeking to concentrate

Highlights the active pursuit of concentration.

striving for concentration

Focuses on the effort and determination involved.

working to concentrate

Implies active and continuous effort.

making an effort to focus

States explicitly that an effort is being made.

endeavoring to focus

A more formal way of expressing the attempt to focus.

aiming to concentrate

Indicates a goal-oriented approach to focusing.

concentrating efforts

Highlights the action of concentration.

directing attention

Focuses on directing one's attention.

applying oneself

Emphasizes the application of oneself to the task.

FAQs

How can I use "trying to focus" in a sentence?

You can use "trying to focus" to describe a situation where you are making an effort to concentrate. For example, "I am "trying to focus" on my work despite the distractions around me".

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

You can use alternatives like "attempting to concentrate", "seeking to concentrate", or "striving for concentration" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "try to focus" instead of "trying to focus"?

Both "try to focus" and "trying to focus" are grammatically correct but have slightly different meanings. "Try to focus" is an imperative or infinitive, while "trying to focus" is a continuous action.

What's the difference between "trying to focus" and "focused"?

"Trying to focus" describes the act of making an effort to concentrate, while "focused" describes the state of being concentrated. For example, "I was "trying to focus" but I wasn't yet completely "focused"".