emphasis towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "emphasis towards" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing the direction or focus of emphasis in a particular context, although "emphasis on" is more standard. Example: "The report places emphasis towards the importance of sustainability in business practices."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I have heard similar things from others on the subject of shifting the emphasis towards rooftop solar.

The Guardian

The announcement is part of a shift of emphasis towards capital spending and infrastructure within the deficit reduction plan.

The Guardian

A shift of emphasis towards rebuilding the economy was already under way long before the meetings began.

The Economist

This was done, says St John, to "give a very slight emphasis towards the front" and to "make it more lively from the outside".

The Guardian - Arts

Even the World Bank came close to giving up on dams a few years ago, and has already shifted its emphasis towards coal as a source of power.

The Economist

The underlying problem in this case is a tension between two different priorities in sustaining the European project – one that puts the emphasis on financial rules and another that tilts the emphasis towards political solidarity.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Simply put, there is more money to be made in Tokyo, and the Yamaguchi-gumi's shift in emphasis towards the Kodo-kai and Tokyo has caused frustration among gang members in western Japan".

The Guardian

Under the new laws, CADE, the competition authority, would shift its emphasis towards looking at potential mergers, rather than at mergers after they have happened.However, it is not fair to say that "antitrust policy has long been weak in Brazil".

The Economist

In rebalancing the criminal justice system towards victims (at the expense of ancient civil liberties such as jury trials, double jeopardy rules and other constraints) it was openly responding to consumer (sorry, voter) demand and shifted the emphasis towards the safety of the community and away from the protection of individuals from miscarriages of justice.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hartsuyker hinted the package could include curbs on the types of courses for which vocational education and training (VET) colleges can be funded under the loan scheme known as VET Fee-Help, shifting the emphasis towards the employment market skills needs.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

For many years now government has strongly incentivised research, and in response many universities have shifted their emphases towards research and away from teaching.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, assess if "emphasis on", "focus on" or a more direct verb like "prioritize" might be a stronger choice.

Common error

A common mistake is assuming "towards" and "on" are interchangeable after "emphasis". While "towards" suggests a direction, "on" indicates the subject of the emphasis. Using "emphasis towards" can sometimes sound awkward, so always double-check if "emphasis on" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "emphasis towards" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the direction or focus of the emphasis. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, though it suggests that the phrasing can sometimes sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "emphasis towards" is used to indicate a shift in focus or importance. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI points out that it can sound awkward and "emphasis on" is often a better choice. It's commonly found in news, media and science contexts. Alternatives such as ""focus on"", "stress on", and "prioritizing" offer clearer and more concise ways to express the same idea. When writing, consider the specific context and whether "emphasis on" or a more direct verb would improve the clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

focus on

Uses a more common preposition, "on", which is often preferred over "towards".

stress on

Replaces "emphasis" with "stress", indicating a strong focus.

highlighting

Emphasizes bringing something to the forefront.

giving importance to

Expresses the act of assigning significance.

prioritizing

Indicates that something is being treated as more important than others.

centering on

Suggests that something is the central point.

concentrating on

Implies focusing one's attention or efforts.

with an eye to

Indicates that something is being considered with a specific goal in mind.

paying attention to

Suggests that consideration is being given to a particular subject.

leaning towards

Indicates a preference or tendency.

FAQs

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

You can use "emphasis towards" to indicate a shift or direction in focus, such as, "The company is placing emphasis towards sustainable practices." However, "emphasis on" is often preferred.

What can I say instead of "emphasis towards"?

You can use alternatives like ""focus on"", "stress on", or "highlighting" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "emphasis towards" or "emphasis on"?

Both phrases are used, but "emphasis on" is generally considered more standard and grammatically correct. "Emphasis towards" can sound awkward to some readers.

What's the difference between "emphasis towards" and "leaning towards"?

"Emphasis towards" suggests a direction of focus, while "leaning towards" implies a preference or inclination. They are not directly interchangeable.