Highlight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Highlight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize or draw attention to a particular piece of information or detail. Example: "Please highlight the key points in your report so that we can easily review them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Firstly to highlight what are the factors that link successful women, but also to give a voice to women of colour.

The Guardian

The highlight of its itinerary is an ascent of Mount Ramelau – the highest mountain in East Timor – timed so you will reach the summit for sunrise.

The Guardian - Travel

Dockers midfielder Nat Fyfe was influential with 27 possessions, eight clearances, and a goal, with his high-flying mark in the final quarter another highlight.

The Guardian - Sport

The president spoke from Boston, where he hoped the highlight benefits of the Massachusetts healthcare law that served as a model for the federal plan.

The Guardian

But at the same time, those recent warnings from the internet pioneer Vint Cerf about storage technologies becoming obsolete and the advent of a "digital dark age" highlight a profound fear: precious things are now only a corrupted hard drive or system upgrade away from being lost, for good.

The Guardian - Opinion

By all means we should highlight the problem of health tourism.

The Guardian

Activists, trade unionists and supermarket workers have launched a campaign to highlight low pay and "in-work poverty" at Sainsbury's, one of the Paralympic sponsors.

The Guardian

Murphy acknowledged that the polls were bad news for Labour but he sought to use the findings to highlight Labour's central message in Scotland – that a vote for the SNP would help Cameron remain in No 10.

The Guardian

The highlight of the week was on the day of my 60th birthday.

The Guardian - Travel

A ministry spokesman said: "The report did highlight some problems that we are now working with the commission to address".

The Guardian

As part of the Guardian's "open journalism" approach, we are introducing a range of brilliant Australian websites to the Guardian Comment Network – part of our award-winning comment site, Comment is free – which will highlight some of the best Australian writing on the web.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "highlight", consider the specific nuance you want to convey – whether you want to simply draw attention, emphasize importance, or enhance a particular feature.

Common error

Avoid using "highlight" as a generic substitute for more specific verbs. Instead of saying 'The report highlights several issues', consider 'The report details', 'analyzes', or 'examines several issues' for greater precision.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "highlight" is as a verb, used transitively to indicate the act of making something more prominent or noticeable. Ludwig's examples showcase this, with sentences like 'Firstly to highlight what are the factors that link successful women'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "Highlight" is a grammatically correct and frequently used word in the English language, primarily serving as a verb to emphasize or draw attention to key details. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and prevalence, especially within news and media contexts. While versatile, it's important to consider more precise alternatives like "emphasize" or "underscore" for nuanced communication. Remember to utilize this term thoughtfully and avoid overusing it as a generic substitute for clearer, more descriptive verbs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Emphasize

Focuses on giving prominence or importance to something.

Underscore

Suggests drawing attention to something as already important or evident.

Accentuate

Implies enhancing or intensifying a particular feature or aspect.

Spotlight

Highlights by making something the center of attention.

Call attention to

Directs focus towards something that might otherwise be overlooked.

Draw attention to

Similar to 'call attention to' but may suggest a more subtle approach.

Bring to the fore

Emphasizes making something more visible or prominent.

Give prominence to

Indicates assigning a higher rank or importance.

Feature

Highlights by including something as a main or important part.

Play up

Suggests exaggerating or emphasizing something, often for effect.

FAQs

How can I use "highlight" in a sentence?

You can use "highlight" to emphasize key information, as in "The presentation will highlight the main achievements of the project" or to draw attention to something important, such as "This section will highlight potential risks".

What can I say instead of "highlight"?

You can use alternatives like "emphasize", "underscore", or "accentuate" depending on the context.

Is it better to "highlight" or "emphasize" a point?

"Highlight" is generally used to draw attention to something, while "emphasize" is used to give something importance. The choice depends on whether you want to make something visible or significant.

Can "highlight" be used as a noun?

Yes, "highlight" can be used as a noun, referring to a significant or interesting detail or event. For example, "The highlight of the conference was the keynote speech".