emphasis mine

USAGE SUMMARY

"emphasis mine" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate when a particular emphasis or point is coming from the writer, rather than from a source being quoted or referred to. For example, the author wrote "The food was 'super delicious' - emphasis mine".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

(Emphasis mine).

The New York Times - Books

(emphasis mine).

The Guardian - Business

Boldface emphasis mine.

The New Yorker

Emphasis mine, of course.

The New Yorker

(Incredulous emphasis mine).

The New York Times

Emphasis mine, but Sanders's, too.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

(The emphasis is mine).

The New Yorker

(The boldface emphasis is mine).

The New York Times

(Their emphasis, not mine).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(The emphasis is mine).I flew to Cairns with Qantas, and the check-in and the service were excellent.

The Economist

(Emphasis not mine — the OED's).

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you're using "emphasis mine" within a direct quote, place it in parentheses or brackets to clearly indicate that it's your addition and not part of the original source material.

Common error

Avoid inserting "emphasis mine" in a way that interrupts the sentence or makes it unclear which words you're emphasizing. Always place it after the emphasized portion or at the end of the sentence or clause it modifies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "emphasis mine" serves as a parenthetical annotation. It indicates that the stress or highlighting in a quoted text is added by the current author, not present in the original source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it clarifies the origin of the emphasis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

20%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "emphasis mine" is a useful phrase to indicate that the emphasis in a particular quote is added by the author and not part of the original source. It's grammatically correct and commonly used across various writing styles, including academic, news, and informal contexts. According to Ludwig, it ensures transparency and prevents misinterpretation. While its overuse should be avoided, correct placement helps maintain clarity. Related phrases like "emphasis added" or "italics mine" can be used as alternatives. Using "emphasis mine" correctly enhances the integrity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emphasis added

Indicates that the emphasis was added by the current speaker/writer.

italics mine

Specifies that the use of italics for emphasis is the speaker/writer's addition.

bolding mine

Indicates that the bold font is used to highlight specific part by the writer, and it's not part of the original text.

highlighting mine

Indicates that the highlighting was added by the current speaker/writer.

stress added

The speaker or writer is highlighting specific part.

underscoring mine

Indicates that the underscoring was added by the current speaker/writer.

my emphasis

A shorter way to indicate the emphasis is the speaker/writer's addition.

I emphasize

Indicates the writer is explicitly highlighting something as important.

note the emphasis

Draws attention to where the emphasis should be placed.

emphasis by me

Highlights the personal addition of emphasis by the author.

FAQs

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

Use "emphasis mine" after a quote or a part of the text you want to highlight, indicating that you are adding the emphasis. For example: "The report stated 'significant improvements are needed' – "emphasis mine".

What's an alternative to saying "emphasis mine"?

You can use phrases like "emphasis added", "italics mine", or "bolding mine" to indicate that you're adding emphasis to a quoted text.

Is it necessary to always use "emphasis mine" when adding stress to a quote?

It's not always necessary, but it's a good practice for academic and formal writing to ensure clarity and avoid misattribution of emphasis. In informal contexts, it might be omitted if the emphasis is obvious.

Where should I place "emphasis mine" within a sentence?

Ideally, place "emphasis mine" immediately after the portion of the text you're emphasizing, or at the end of the sentence or clause. This avoids ambiguity and makes it clear what you're drawing attention to.