In writing a recent article, I couldn’t decide whether to say that something “commands” attention or “demands” attention.
In my mind, “commanding” seems more emphatic — attention must be paid!
Indeed, Merriam-Webster defines “command” as “to direct authoritatively: order,” whereas it defines “demand” as “to call for as useful or necessary.”
However, in Googling this distinction, I came across a blog post that seems to suggest the opposite: That “demanding” attention is negative; it entails interrupting someone rudely.
By contrast, according to the blogger, “commanding” attention is positive; it means you’ve drawn someone in with subtlety, without waving your hands or shouting.
Who’s right? As always, I turned to my trusty colleague Paul Stregevsky. Here’s what Paul wrote back:
Usually, something demands attention by being intrusive. A flashing sign or a slogan chanted over a bullhorn come to mind.
But sometimes, something demands attention by being urgent. For example, an email message marked “URGENT.”
And sometimes, yes, something demands attention by being excellent.
Beyond the difference in their degree of good to bad, the two terms differ more fundamentally:
When we say something commands attention, we mean, “People are paying attention to it.”
When we say something demands attention, we mean, “People ought to pay attention to it.”
A third phrase comes to mind: “Attention must be paid.” We say that about something that stands out for its excellence, or perhaps for its novelty.
On a scale of 1 to 100, where 100 is perfectly safe/benign/positive, I would rank the three phrases as follows:
95: Attention must be paid.
80: Commands attention.
50: Demands attentions. (Too many meanings, too many connotations to use reliably.)
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