The difference between "focus on" and "concentrate on?" [closed]
This is one question in my book:
Our company don’t ____ on profits only.
A. Concentrate B. Focus
The key gives B but I don't think there is a difference between them in this context.
What do you think? Thanks.
One dictionary that does not use circular definitions for these two expressions is The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online:
concentrate verb [1]
1 [intransitive] to think very carefully about something that you are doing [↪ concentration]:
- Now please concentrate.
- Adrian was finding it difficult to concentrate.
concentrate on
- Be quiet - let me concentrate on my homework.focus [2]
1 give attention to something [intransitive and transitive] to give special attention to one particular person or thing, or to make people do this
focus on
- He needs to focus more on his career.
focus your attention/mind/efforts on something
- She tried to focus her mind on her work.
focus (somebody's) mind/attention (on something) (=make people give their attention to something)
- We need to focus public attention on this issue.[Other meanings omitted for both words]
Here, the definition of concentrate does tend to support the distinction given in the answer from @FriendlyGreasemonkey, in that it specifically refers to thinking, whereas the definition of focus refers to giving attention.
There is clearly considerable overlap, and many instances where either word could be used, but I would agree that concentration implies use of the mind by an individual or group, and is not suitable for use in reference to an entity.
Concentration tends to be used in the context of a person's mind and thoughts. If you accept that a company, not being a real person, has no mind then it cannot concentrate.
Conversely, focus tends to connote the tuning or centering of interests, which in the case of a company means its resources i.e. people and other assets. This makes the choice of focus in terms of a company more suitable, in my mind.