I recently wondered what the difference between attention and attentions was, as I've heard both, but couldn't think of or remember when someone would use attentions.
One definition for attentions gives "acts of courtesy, consideration, or gallantry, especially by a suitor."
So now I remember that attentions always seems to be used romantic contexts. I've personally never heard of it used in other ways.
So would it be appropriate to use attentions in a sentence such as:
His neglected daughter just wants his attentions.
And would it be incorrect to say, "He wants his mom's sole attentions" to mean that he wants his mom's focus to solely be on him? I just think it's weird because sole, meaning 'one and only' is describing a plural word; just as "sole focuses" would be weird. I don't know if it's just me.
Best Answer
Try something like,
Or "care and attention". This avoids the problem of using the word attentions and having people read incestuousness into it; it also embraces the idea of affection and caring interest.