accentuate something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accentuate something" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to emphasize or highlight a particular aspect or feature. For example, "The designer used bright colors to accentuate the beauty of the landscape." Alternative expressions include "emphasize something," "highlight something," and "underscore something."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

You can't accentuate something you don't have!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As such, balance is key: achieve it by pairing something floral that will accentuate your frailty with something not so floral, like a denim jacket.

Vice

Yet no industry could exercise so dark an allure - something accentuated by the profile of smokers, skewed increasingly towards the poor, the young, and, frankly, the darker-skinned and further away.

The Guardian

A small pendant will actually accentuate the size of the person, something they may not appreciate.

WikiHow

On something like Alicia Keys Fallin' they tend to accentuate the double bass and drums to the detriment of the vocals.

The Guardian - Tech

Black is something classic beauties always wear, but try to accentuate the simplicity of it with accessories of a single other color such as red, white, or green.

WikiHow

The radical label accentuates the feeling that something has gone wrong in economic life.

The New Yorker

Not knowing amounted to the best excuse for not acting, especially when the imperative to do something was accentuated by the daily Serb bombardment of Sarajevo that began in 1992 and by an archipelago of Serbian concentration camps for Bosnian Muslims uncovered that year.

The New York Times

How to defend against such hazards is not least among the conundrums facing both sets of bowlers, something especially accentuated by the manner in which Guptill hit the ball with an impeccably straight bat and massive power, and also, at the other end of the spectrum, how De Villiers can use the pace on the ball to scoop and ramp it over fine leg and third man.

The Guardian - Sport

He thinks about everything he does — how he presents himself is central to how he leads — so the accent is probably something he did not want to lose and may even at times accentuate.

The New York Times - Magazine

In 1968, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey spoke of something he called "The Politics of Joy," a slogan he adopted to accentuate his trademark zest and enthusiasm as he ran for president.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accentuate something", consider the specific quality you want to emphasize and choose details that effectively highlight it. For instance, "Use strategic lighting to accentuate the architectural details."

Common error

Avoid using "accentuate something" with vague descriptors. Instead of "accentuate something nice", specify what makes it nice, such as "accentuate the vibrant colors" for a more impactful sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accentuate something" serves as a transitive verb phrase where "accentuate" is the verb, and "something" represents the direct object. Its primary grammatical function is to describe the act of emphasizing or highlighting a particular aspect, as supported by the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accentuate something" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to emphasize or highlight a specific quality. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Its frequency is considered rare, but it is adaptable to both formal and informal contexts as evidenced by the examples. While "highlight something" and "emphasize something" serve as suitable alternatives, being mindful to select the descriptor that matches the quality to be accentuated will produce the most impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accent something

Shorter, more concise version of the original phrase with slightly less emphasis.

highlight something

Focuses on drawing attention to a particular aspect, similar to accentuate but often used for visual elements.

emphasize something

Stresses the importance or significance of something, similar to accentuate but can be used in more formal contexts.

underscore something

Draws attention to something, suggesting it's important, and can be used in more formal writing.

enhance something

Improves or intensifies the quality of something; similar to accentuate but more focused on improvement.

draw attention to something

Directs focus to a particular aspect, often used when the thing being highlighted is unexpected.

spotlight something

Highlights or showcases something, often used in the context of achievements or features.

bring out something

Reveals or emphasizes a particular quality, often used for positive attributes.

feature something

Give prominence to something, usually by presenting or displaying it.

foreground something

Give prominence or importance to something.

FAQs

How can I use "accentuate something" in a sentence?

You can use "accentuate something" to emphasize or highlight a particular aspect or feature. For example, "The bright colors accentuate the beauty of the landscape."

What are some alternatives to "accentuate something"?

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

What does it mean to "accentuate something"?

To "accentuate something" means to make it more noticeable or prominent. It's about drawing attention to a particular quality or feature.

Is "accentuate something" formal or informal?

"Accentuate something" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing.