are used to emphasize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are used to emphasize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how certain words, phrases, or techniques serve to highlight or stress a particular point or idea. Example: "In this essay, rhetorical questions are used to emphasize the urgency of the issue at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

All three are used to emphasize similarities and parallels between different things, but analogies are often used to help explain complex ideas by likening them to something familiar.

The New York Times

Three levels of pitch are employed: a basic reciting tone is embellished by neighbouring tones above and below, which are used to emphasize grammatical accents in the texts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Italics are used to emphasize a point, and one of the points Mamet is making here is, again, about storytelling: Miss A, a kind of storyteller herself, wants to know what happened next.

The New Yorker

Regarding references of CSPs, many different variants are used to emphasize customer satisfaction.

Journal of Cloud Computing

In this study, ERTMS system is described by a set of State machines (that describe the behaviour of objects) and that Sequence diagrams are used to emphasize specific patterns of interactions among State machines.

European Transport Research Review

By this motivation, fuzzy weights are used to emphasize previous A-scan signals to obtain a high contrast image over the buried object and eventually high contrast in DTS.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In fact, a a comedy team was used to emphasize what at the time seemed to be its amusing side effect.

The New York Times - Health

On other occasions, it is associated more exclusively with environmental constraints or environmental performance, and the expression environmental sustainability is used to emphasize that point.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The remainder of the fund can include stocks outside the index, and is used to emphasize or de-emphasize the 10 sectors, depending on Mr. Enlund's economic outlook.

The New York Times

A3 SCIENCE/HEALTH U.S. AIDS Policy Is Criticized An insistence by Republican Congressional leaders that American money to fight the spread of AIDS globally be used to emphasize abstinence and fidelity is undercutting more comprehensive aid models, the General Accountability Office said.

The New York Times

The Los Angeles meeting, scheduled to address the initial outcry, was used to emphasize the importance of developing more extensive interaction between the Police Department and Muslim residents, the police said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure that the element you are using to emphasize genuinely supports and enhances the point you are trying to make. Overuse or misuse can dilute the impact.

Common error

Be careful not to use multiple emphasizing techniques simultaneously on the same element. This can come across as heavy-handed and detract from the clarity of your writing. For example, avoid using both bold text and italics together unless absolutely necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are used to emphasize" functions as a connector to indicate the purpose of a specific element or technique in highlighting key information. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is typically employed to clarify the intention behind using a particular method to draw attention to something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are used to emphasize" serves as a connector, indicating the purpose of highlighting or stressing a particular point. Ludwig AI identifies the grammatical status as correct, though its frequency is uncommon. As seen from the provided examples, it frequently appears in scientific and news-related articles to explain the reason behind specific methods or elements being implemented. When using this phrase, it's crucial to avoid redundancy and ensure the emphasized element genuinely supports the intended message. Consider alternatives like "serve to underscore" or "function to highlight" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are designed to emphasize

The alternative utilizes "are designed" to express the purpose.

serve to underscore

This alternative uses more formal language by employing 'underscore' instead of 'emphasize'.

are meant to underscore

This alternative uses "meant to" to convey a similar meaning with a slightly different tone.

function to highlight

This option replaces "are used" with "function" for a more concise expression.

are intended to highlight

Similar to the original, but uses "intended" instead of "used" to denote purpose.

aim to accentuate

This alternative uses "accentuate", which suggests a stronger form of emphasis.

work to stress

This phrase uses "stress" which is a more direct and simpler synonym for emphasize.

serve to bring out

This option replaces "emphasize" with "bring out" for a more descriptive nuance.

help to bring attention to

This alternative is more descriptive and less direct than the original phrase.

intend to draw attention to

This version specifies intent, adding a layer of purpose to the highlighting.

FAQs

How can I use "are used to emphasize" in a sentence?

You can use "are used to emphasize" to explain the purpose of a particular element in highlighting a specific point. For example, "Bold fonts are used to emphasize key terms in the document".

What are some alternatives to "are used to emphasize"?

You can use alternatives like "serve to underscore", "function to highlight", or "aim to accentuate" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "are used to emphasize" and "are intended to emphasize"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "are intended to emphasize" implies a deliberate design or plan to highlight something, whereas "are used to emphasize" simply describes the function without necessarily implying a prior intention.

When is it appropriate to use "are used to emphasize" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "are used to emphasize" when you want to explain the specific function or purpose of a technique or element in highlighting key information within your text.