as if to emphasize

USAGE SUMMARY

"as if to emphasize" is a perfectly valid expression in written English.
It is usually used when someone is doing something for the purpose of emphasizing a point. For example: "The teacher raised her voice as if to emphasize her point that the students needed to work harder."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As if to emphasize the point, unemployment dropped again, to 4percentt.

The New York Times

Then he had paused, as if to emphasize his next words, or let them sink in.

The New York Times - Arts

As if to emphasize the point, the exchange between Thaw and McAlpin isn't in the play.

The New Yorker

The ball sailed over the scoreboard in left field, as if to emphasize the damage.

The New York Times - Sports

Dolan spat out the word June, as if to emphasize that there was no urgency.

The New York Times - Sports

As if to emphasize the heroine's isolation amid bustle, melancholy melodic fragments were juxtaposed with insistent thuds.

The New York Times - Arts

As if to emphasize that point, he ends each conversation with Mark with a reminder: be a leader.

The New York Times - Sports

As if to emphasize his phallic power, Mr. Albini wears his guitar strapped low across his waist.

The New York Times - Arts

As if to emphasize the lack of vegetation, the new development was to be named "Kensington Woods".

The New York Times

As if to emphasize this, even the relatively reasonable houses tend to be described with rhetorical excess.

The New Yorker

As if to emphasize his point, he spoke not to a reporter but directly to the team's Web site.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as if to emphasize" to clearly signal the intent behind an action, ensuring the reader understands the purpose of the action is to highlight or stress a particular point.

Common error

Avoid using "as if to emphasize" when the action's purpose is unclear or unintended. Ensure the action genuinely appears to be performed with the specific intention of emphasizing something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as if to emphasize" functions as a connector, indicating purpose or intent behind an action. According to Ludwig AI, it suggests that something is done with the specific intention of highlighting a point. The examples in Ludwig show its use in describing behaviors designed to draw attention.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Arts

15%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as if to emphasize" serves as a connector, pinpointing the intent behind an action. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in news, arts, and sports contexts. The phrase adds an interpretive layer, suggesting an action is purposefully designed to highlight a point. While generally neutral in register, it is crucial to ensure the described action genuinely aligns with the implied intent. For alternative expressions, "seemingly to underscore" or "in an effort to highlight" offer similar shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as though to highlight

Implies a similar effect to "as if to emphasize", but with a slightly less direct intention.

seemingly to underscore

Similar to "as if to emphasize" but suggests the intention might be perceived rather than explicitly stated.

with the intention of stressing

Directly states the intention to give importance to something.

aiming to underscore

Implies a goal-oriented action to emphasize a point.

in an effort to highlight

Focuses on the effort made to bring something to attention.

seeking to reinforce

Highlights the attempt to strengthen or support an idea.

in order to accentuate

Emphasizes the desire to make something more noticeable.

so as to bring attention to

Highlights the purpose of directing focus toward something.

with a view to impress

Indicates an intention to create a strong impact.

to make a point of

Suggests a deliberate action to draw attention.

FAQs

How can I use "as if to emphasize" in a sentence?

Use "as if to emphasize" to describe an action that seems intended to highlight or reinforce a point. For example, "He paused before answering, as if to emphasize the importance of his words".

What are some alternatives to "as if to emphasize"?

You can use alternatives like "seemingly to underscore", "in an effort to highlight", or "with the intention of stressing" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "as if to emphasize" or "to emphasize"?

"As if to emphasize" adds a layer of interpretation, suggesting the speaker's perspective on the intent behind the action. "To emphasize" is more direct and neutral.

When is it appropriate to use "as if to emphasize"?

Use "as if to emphasize" when you want to convey that someone's action appears to be deliberately intended to highlight or stress a particular point, even if their true intentions are not explicitly stated.