willful attention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willful attention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deliberate and intentional focus on something, often in contexts related to mindfulness or concentration. Example: "In order to improve your skills, you must practice willful attention during your training sessions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This involves not just an observational process of willful attention, but also an involuntary "being-pulled-along by the state of affairs itself" to ever more constituent parts of the nexus of human knowledge.

SEP

Other physicians, however, suspected HCR patients of deliberately seeking attention or respite; in support of this opinion, they observed that HCR symptoms sometimes appeared and disappeared suddenly depending who was present, and that HCR patients sometimes convulsed or fell without hurting themselves, suggesting willful attention seeking.

BMC Women's Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Danica, who beat Marina for willful, attention-seeking behavior, lived by a Spartan code of "walk-through-walls" Communist determination, as her daughter has put it.

The New Yorker

Often misperceived as willful bids for attention, yesterday's hysteria and neurasthenia, today's eating disorders, and whatever problematic behaviors emerge in the future command attention because they defy reduction by medical minds.

The New York Times - Books

Whether that's a result of inadequate education or evidence of a willful effort to get attention, I'm not sure.

The New Yorker

Is Wills's blindness willful?

The New York Times

Or, people will have a willful ignorance to it.

Forbes

The president of Central Connecticut State University, who was accused of plagiarizing parts of a newspaper opinion article, apologized to the school's faculty yesterday, saying that his actions were not willful, but rather the result of "insufficient" attention to detail.

The New York Times

In spite of a strict convent education, Bankhead was a willful, headstrong child with a remarkable facility for attracting attention.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In recent years, as Tibetans under Chinese rule have tried to focus world attention on their plight, they have forsaken their once willful isolation.

The New York Times - Books

Or if you didn't, were you choosing to turn a blind eye?" To paraphrase Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who was overseeing the Madoff proceedings, willful blindness takes place when participants know the odds are high that if they paid attention, they may learn something that may make their actions improper or illegal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "willful attention" to describe situations where a person intentionally and consciously directs their focus, especially when overcoming distractions or resistance.

Common error

The term "willful" implies a deliberate act. Don't use "willful attention" to describe situations where attention is drawn involuntarily or passively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willful attention" functions as a noun phrase, where 'willful' modifies 'attention'. It indicates a deliberate and intentional focus of one's awareness. As Ludwig suggests, it's about intentionally directing focus.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "willful attention" describes a deliberate and intentional focus, making it useful when describing situations requiring conscious control over one's focus. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, its frequency is relatively rare. Usage contexts span across news, science, and encyclopedias. To avoid misuse, remember that "willful attention" implies a conscious effort and should not be applied to involuntary attention. Consider alternatives like "deliberate focus" or "intentional concentration" to convey similar meanings with potentially higher frequency. Ludwig's analysis shows that it's important to deliberately select context where consciousness and direct intent are core to your writing purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberate focus

Emphasizes the intentional and planned nature of the attention.

intentional concentration

Highlights the focused and purposeful application of attention.

conscious awareness

Focuses on the state of being aware and attentive.

purposeful observation

Stresses the deliberate intent behind the act of observing.

determined mindfulness

Combines the elements of determination and being present in the moment.

focused intent

Highlights the direction of attention with a specific aim.

voluntary attentiveness

Emphasizes the act of willingly paying attention.

active concentration

Stresses the energetic and engaged nature of the concentration.

mindful attention

Highlights the practice of paying attention in a non-judgmental way.

selective attention

Highlights the specific focus and choice involved in directing attention.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "willful attention" in my daily life?

Practice directing your focus intentionally when faced with distractions. For example, during meditation or while working on a complex task, consciously redirect your attention back to the present moment each time your mind wanders.

What does "willful attention" mean in the context of mindfulness?

In mindfulness, "willful attention" refers to the deliberate and intentional act of focusing on the present moment without judgment. It involves actively choosing where to direct your awareness.

What are some alternatives to "willful attention" that I can use in my writing?

You can use alternatives like "deliberate focus", "intentional concentration", or "conscious awareness" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "willful attention" differ from simply paying attention?

"Willful attention" implies a conscious and intentional effort to direct one's focus, whereas simply "paying attention" might not involve the same degree of deliberate control or sustained effort.