"to pay attention to" vs "to pay a special attention to"

Question

"to pay attention to" vs "to pay a special attention to"

Both phrases are correct, but "to pay attention to" is more commonly used in English. "To pay a special attention to" is also correct but less common. Both phrases convey the idea of focusing on something or someone.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate focusing on something or someone. It is a common expression in English.

Examples:

Please pay attention to the details.
It's important to pay attention to your surroundings.
She always pays attention to what others are saying.
He pays attention to his health by exercising regularly.
Students should pay attention to the teacher during the lesson.

Alternatives:

to focus on
to concentrate on
to be attentive to
to heed
to take notice of

This phrase is also used to indicate focusing on something or someone, but it emphasizes giving extra or particular attention.

Examples:

Please pay a special attention to the instructions.
He paid a special attention to her needs.
The manager paid a special attention to customer feedback.
It's important to pay a special attention to safety measures.
The teacher paid a special attention to the struggling students.

Alternatives:

to give special attention to
to focus specifically on
to pay extra attention to
to be particularly attentive to
to give particular attention to

Answer 1

to pay attention to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

to pay a special attention to

This phrase is correct but less common in English.

"to pay attention to" vs "to pay a special attention to"

to pay attention to

to pay a special attention to

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