unreasonable focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unreasonable focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an excessive or irrational concentration on a particular issue or subject. Example: "The team's unreasonable focus on minor details led to delays in the overall project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Racecourse events and award ceremonies differ in location and number of shootings (I'm sure Madonna's fall at the Brits would have ended differently at Ascot) but are alike in their unreasonable focus on the appearance of women.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The decision, the first federal ruling to find that the practice under the Bloomberg administration violates the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure, focused on police stops conducted in front of several thousand private residential buildings in the Bronx enrolled in the Trespass Affidavit Program.

The New York Times

It isn't entirely unreasonable, some point out, to focus on Muslims and Middle Easterners as the most likely terrorists; it is simply an efficient way to use resources.

Huffington Post

The grievances aren't unreasonable, on either side, but the focus on fairness, by making it harder to reach any kind of agreement at all, could prove disastrous.

The New York Times

The respondents were keen to emphasize that a focus on GPs has been unreasonable, given that the psychiatric profession was deemed to be responsible for initiating and legitimizing the use of the drugs" [ 26].

BMC Family Practice

When asked about the BCPL prohibition Walker spokesperson Laurel Patrick told the New York Times, "Generally, Governor Walker does not think it is unreasonable to enact policies requiring board staff to focus on board-related activities".

Vice

The investigation, which comes after a preliminary federal inquiry into the department, will focus on accusations that officers used excessive force, including unreasonable deadly force, when dealing with civilians.

The New York Times

Although the probe is currently focusing on Google, it's not an unreasonable assumption to make that it could easily be extended to other search companies.

TechCrunch

"These entrepreneurs saw the value in adopting the Unreasonable brand as a way of catalyzing their growth and focus.

Huffington Post

The Nassau County Interim Finance Authority should focus its efforts on persuading the state to help alleviate unreasonable, wasteful mandates, exploding pension expenses for county workers, and double-digit increases in health care costs.

The New York Times

The complaint focuses on app permissions, with the Consumer Council warning about "unreasonable and unbalanced terms and conditions", and how Facebook users are unwittingly granting permission for personal data and content to be sold on.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unreasonable focus", ensure that you clearly explain why the focus is unreasonable. Provide specific examples or evidence to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "unreasonable focus" without specifying what the focus should be on instead. Without this comparison, the statement can seem subjective and lack persuasive power.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unreasonable focus" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unreasonable" modifies the noun "focus". It typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence, describing the nature of the attention or emphasis being given. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unreasonable focus" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase that describes an excessive or inappropriate concentration on a particular issue. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It serves to express concern or criticism regarding the misallocation of attention or resources. While its frequency is rare, the phrase appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, typically within news and opinion contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying why the focus is considered unreasonable and what the alternative focus should be.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue emphasis

Changes the adjective to "undue", suggesting an inappropriate or disproportionate level of attention.

excessive attention

Replaces "focus" with "attention" and "unreasonable" with "excessive", highlighting the disproportionate amount of attention given.

inordinate concentration

Uses "inordinate" to describe the level of concentration, emphasizing its excessiveness.

disproportionate emphasis

Highlights the imbalance in emphasis, suggesting that something is being emphasized far more than it should be.

exaggerated importance

Shifts the focus to the level of importance assigned, indicating that it is overstated.

unjustified attention

Indicates that the attention given is not warranted or deserved.

overemphasis

A single word alternative that directly conveys the idea of placing too much emphasis on something.

misplaced priority

Focuses on the idea that the priority is not correctly assigned or justified.

skewed perspective

Suggests that the focus is distorted, leading to an unbalanced view.

obsessive preoccupation

Emphasizes the compulsive nature of the focus, suggesting it is consuming and unhealthy.

FAQs

How can I use "unreasonable focus" in a sentence?

You can use "unreasonable focus" to describe a situation where too much attention is being given to something, like: "The company's "unreasonable focus" on short-term profits led to long-term neglect of research and development."

What's a more formal way to say "unreasonable focus"?

A more formal alternative to "unreasonable focus" could be "disproportionate emphasis" or "inordinate concentration". These phrases convey a similar meaning in a more professional tone.

What are some synonyms for "unreasonable focus"?

Synonyms for "unreasonable focus" include "undue emphasis", "excessive attention", and "misplaced priority". These phrases can add variety to your writing while maintaining a similar meaning.

Is it always negative to have an "unreasonable focus"?

Yes, the term "unreasonable focus" typically carries a negative connotation, implying that the concentration on something is excessive, unwarranted, or detrimental to other important aspects.