a little emphasis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a little emphasis" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to highlight or stress a particular point or idea, but in a subtle or moderate way. Example: "In this presentation, I would like to place a little emphasis on the importance of teamwork for our success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is for the most part Mediterranean with a little emphasis on Greece and Spain, and a lot of fish.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Maybe put a little emphasis, humor, or tone to it.

WikiHow

Connect the candy cane where the end stops and make a flourish _ with a little emphasis at the end of the _.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yet he chooses to call it "British Petroleum," with a deft little emphasis on the "British".

Forbes

Even though PANI nanostructures have been studied extensively, a very little emphasis is given on the synthesis of the nanostructures of PANI oligomers such as tetraaniline, octaaniline and hexadecaaniline, which have been studied experimentally and theoretically as model compounds for PANI.

Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry

Thus children in the first wave lived their early childhood years in an era with little emphasis on early childhood policy, at a time where there was strong ideologically driven Indigenous policy as described above.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

As a result, we put little emphasis on the role of foreign firms.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Rarely has the theory of evolution been invoked during discussions of the archaeology of the exploration and colonization of the continent, a result of too little emphasis on human skeletal remains.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The 64th edition of the event saw a number of point-scoring records broken in an attacking game that had little emphasis on defence.

BBC

During his idiosyncratic run for the White House, when even campaign insiders expected him to lose, Trump put little emphasis on a transition effort.

The Guardian

Donald Trump put little emphasis on a transition effort during his idiosyncratic campaign for the White House, as even campaign insiders expected him to lose.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a little emphasis" to subtly highlight specific aspects without overpowering the main message. This approach works well when presenting supplementary details or nuanced perspectives.

Common error

Avoid using "a little emphasis" excessively in highly formal documents such as legal contracts or academic papers. Opt for more precise and impactful language to ensure clarity and professionalism. Instead, consider alternatives like "slight stress" or "minor focus".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little emphasis" functions as a qualifier that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the degree or extent of emphasis being applied. It suggests a subtle or moderate degree of highlighting. The Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a little emphasis" is a grammatically correct phrase used to convey a subtle degree of highlighting or importance. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, with a neutral register. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, it effectively signals a moderate level of attention. Consider alternatives like "slight stress" or "minor focus" for nuanced expressions. The phrase appears in various contexts like News & Media, Science and Wiki pages.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight stress

This alternative uses "stress" instead of "emphasis" implying a gentle highlighting.

minor focus

This alternative uses "focus" to convey a small degree of attention.

gentle highlighting

This alternative suggests a mild form of drawing attention to something.

subtle accentuation

This is a more formal alternative, using "accentuation" to mean emphasis in a delicate manner.

brief attention

This alternative focuses on the duration of the attention given.

small importance

This alternative emphasizes the level of importance assigned.

passing mention

This alternative highlights the fleeting nature of the emphasis.

modest attention

This alternative indicates a limited degree of focus or care.

limited highlighting

This suggests that the extent of emphasis or highlighting is restricted.

partial stress

Similar to slight stress, but using 'partial' to indicate incompleteness.

FAQs

How can I use "a little emphasis" in a sentence?

You can use "a little emphasis" to subtly highlight a particular point or idea. For example, "The speaker put "a little emphasis" on the importance of teamwork".

What are some alternatives to "a little emphasis"?

Alternatives include "slight stress", "minor focus", or "gentle highlighting", which provide similar meanings with slightly different connotations.

Is it appropriate to use "a little emphasis" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, using "a little emphasis" may be less impactful in formal writing. Consider stronger, more direct alternatives like "significant importance" or "marked focus" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "a little emphasis" and "strong emphasis"?

"A little emphasis" suggests a subtle highlighting, while "strong emphasis" indicates a significant focus. The choice depends on the level of importance you want to convey. If you need to highlight something with more relevance, prefer "strong emphasis".