whole attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whole attention" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when emphasizing the complete focus or concentration on something, but "full attention" is more standard. Example: "During the presentation, I gave my whole attention to the speaker, trying to absorb every detail."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Something suddenly consumed my whole attention.

The Guardian - Opinion

Or as always, everything happens: the standing walls keep standing with their whole attention.

The New York Times

"By the time South Africa became free, the whole attention of the world turns to South Africa.

The New York Times

She murmured something, stretched out an arm to put the glass down, then gave him her whole attention, her open mouth.

The Guardian - Books

Only when your whole attention and desire are fixed on something else — whether a distant mountain, or the past, or the gods of Asgard — does the 'thrill' arise.

The New York Times - Books

Last week Mr. Coscia, fresh from helping Mr. McGreevey develop his plan to close the state budget gap, said he was now turning his whole attention to the arena issue.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"On the whole my attention was only minimally engaged by the preoccupations of rock-and-roll bands," she wrote, "but the Doors were different, the Doors interested me.

The Guardian - Music

Then lay down for a catch-up hour, remembering what it was like to fix your whole helpless attention on something uncertain and watch it come out right.

The Guardian - Books

It's crucial for nations and the appreciation of the global HE system as a whole that attention is not bogged down in rivalries between single 'name' players in HE capable of attracting an elite.

The Guardian

The data indicate that to leverage the benefits of the whole network, attention must be paid to devising a structure which integrates research production and use and facilitates lateral cross-disciplinary and cross-organizational communication.

Social Science & Medicine

Give your whole, undivided attention to the conversation and the person you're having it with.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and impact, consider using "full attention" instead of "whole attention" as it is more commonly recognized and used in contemporary English.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "whole attention" in formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it may come across as slightly less polished than alternatives like "full attention" or "undivided attention".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whole attention" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where 'whole' acts as an adjective modifying 'attention'. This phrase describes the entirety of one's focus or concentration directed towards something, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "whole attention" is used to convey complete focus or concentration. Although grammatically acceptable, Ludwig indicates that "full attention" is a more common and preferred alternative in most contexts. The phrase appears across various sources, including news, science, and wiki articles, with a neutral register. While "whole attention" is understandable, opting for "full attention" or other similar phrases can enhance clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

full attention

More standard and commonly used alternative to express complete focus.

complete attention

Emphasizes the thoroughness and entirety of one's focus.

undivided attention

Highlights the lack of distractions or divided focus.

total focus

Focuses on the completeness of concentration.

absolute concentration

Stresses the intensity and unwavering nature of focus.

full concentration

Similar to 'full attention', but emphasizing the mental effort.

complete focus

Highlights the thorough and total focus on something.

rapt attention

Indicates a state of being completely absorbed and focused.

focused attention

Highlights the act of deliberately focusing one's attention.

close attention

Emphasizes careful and detailed focus.

FAQs

What is a more common way to say "whole attention"?

A more common and widely accepted alternative to "whole attention" is "full attention". It's generally preferred in most contexts.

Is "whole attention" grammatically incorrect?

No, "whole attention" is not grammatically incorrect, but it's less frequently used than "full attention" and might sound slightly awkward to some native English speakers. Ludwig AI confirms this stylistic preference.

When is it appropriate to use "whole attention"?

"Whole attention" can be used when you want to emphasize the completeness of the attention given, but in most cases, "full attention" conveys the same meaning more effectively.

What are some phrases similar to "whole attention"?

Similar phrases include "undivided attention", "complete attention", and "total focus", which all emphasize different aspects of being fully focused on something.