waning attention

USAGE SUMMARY

'waning attention' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when describing a situation in which someone is losing interest in something. For example: "The professor spoke for two hours, but his audience's waning attention was obvious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

In keeping up with our waning attention spans, some pretty ridiculous (read: super cool) guns are popping up in our games.

Independent

But in our age of serialized, bingeable entertainment, with twist following twist in a bid to hold our waning attention spans, there's something refreshingly bold and optimistic about a show made up only of beginnings.

The New Yorker

After ten minutes, some of the children were still listening, but others had fallen victim to waning attention spans and were wandering around, climbing on their parents' laps, or asking to use iPads.

The New Yorker

JERICHO, West Bank — One year after the Palestinians' high-profile failure to win United Nations membership through the Security Council, they are returning to the General Assembly next week seeking largely symbolic "nonmember state" status, with a subdued campaign that many analysts see as a long-shot effort to win back the waning attention of the world.

The New York Times

With waning attention spans and lack of exercise comes the droning stalemate of digital encumbrance and content disposability.

TechCrunch

Despite many obstacles (my waning attention span, the urge to cheat), I felt a weird sense of pride and accomplishment for having stuck with such an absurd goal, and I wondered if this made me some sort of Guinness World Record Holder.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In the years before Payá's death, his influence was said to be waning, and attention shifted to younger activists such as blogger Yoani Sanchez.

Wikipedia

UNICEF concerned that aid and attention waning for children and women still affected by the cyclone Yangon/Geneva: 1 May 2009 — Communities devastated by Cyclone Nargis one year ago have faced formidable challenges during the year of recovery and rebuilding.

Unicef

Hey, he has stopped pressuring me for sex when I'm tired -- is his attention waning?

The New York Times - Magazine

As I read those last pages to my daughter, I could sense her attention waning, and I thought, Well, this really is a good lesson about the mundanity of life, about the kindness in being polite, about how there can be poetry even in blather.

The New Yorker

There is a point at which I have to stop looking because I can feel my productivity and attention waning.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing attention spans, use "waning attention" to describe a gradual decrease in focus, as opposed to a sudden loss. For example, "Due to the speaker's monotone voice, the audience's waning attention became noticeable."

Common error

Avoid using "waning attention" to describe a sudden or abrupt loss of focus. "Waning" implies a gradual decline. If the attention is lost suddenly, consider using phrases like "lost focus" or "distracted."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "waning attention" functions as a noun phrase, where "waning" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "attention". Ludwig examples confirm its use to describe a gradual decrease in focus or interest. Ludwig AI states the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "waning attention" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for describing a gradual decline in focus or interest. According to Ludwig, it's appropriate for various contexts and registers, being most frequently found in news and media sources. While semantically similar phrases such as "decreasing focus" or "declining interest" can be used, it's important to remember that "waning" suggests a gradual reduction rather than a sudden loss. Ludwig AI confirms this, and using the phrase correctly will enhance the clarity and sophistication of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreasing focus

Focus is used instead of attention, making the phrase more direct.

declining interest

Replaces attention with interest, emphasizing a loss of enthusiasm.

fading focus

Uses fading instead of waning, which conveys a sense of gradual disappearance.

diminishing concentration

Emphasizes the reduction in the ability to concentrate.

reduced attentiveness

Attentiveness is employed as a synonym for attention, providing a more formal tone.

slipping focus

Uses "slipping" to describe the loss of focus which implies a lack of grip.

lessening concentration

Highlights the gradual decrease in concentration ability.

shrinking focus

Focus is used instead of attention, making the phrase more direct and is used in relation to size metaphorically.

ebb of attention

Uses "ebb" to describe the reduced attention, implying a receding or flowing back.

dwindling interest

Emphasizes the reduction in passion over time.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "waning attention" in a sentence?

Use "waning attention" to describe a gradual decline in someone's focus or interest. For example, "The teacher noticed the students' "declining interest" as the lesson progressed."

What are some alternatives to "waning attention"?

You can use alternatives like "decreasing focus", "fading focus", or "declining interest" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "waning attention" formal or informal?

"Waning attention" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure. Using phrases like "diminishing concentration" or "reduced attentiveness", however, could be more suitable for more formal texts.

Can "waning attention" be used to describe the attention of a group?

Yes, "waning attention" can describe the collective attention of a group. For example, "The audience's waning attention was evident during the long presentation."