emphasize

USAGE SUMMARY

'emphasize' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you are giving special importance or emphasis to something. For example: I would like to emphasize the importance of regular exercise for maintaining good health.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lynch went on to emphasize "this wasn't a mere deletion of a few words but a full-fledged blackout of 28 pages of the report".

The Guardian

We emphasize the need to refrain from pressing our Palestinian people and their camps in the Syrian crisis.

The Guardian

Speaking behind a podium again on the trail in South Carolina, Clinton did not emphasize race – even though last month, another outcry surfaced when Walter Scott, another unarmed black man, was shot in the back and killed by a police officer less than two hours away in North Charleston.

The Guardian

At that point Johnson, for all the decent little touches his coach Ben Olsen likes to emphasize he has made in lieu of goals, was not looking in any danger of sending his national team coach a message, Jermain Defoe-style.

The Guardian - Sport

Will it want to emphasize its Christian and animist character, in contrast to the largely Muslim north?

The Economist

According to a partner in the programme, the least sensitive issues, which emphasize women's health, were addressed initially.

The Economist

Mr Huckabee has sought to minimize his role in Mr Dumond's release, and to emphasize that he could not have predicted the horrific results.

The Economist

"We emphasize that we do not consider these Titius-Bode-like 'laws' as having any other meaning than a possible signature of formation processes," the astronomers insist.

The Economist

We would like them to emphasize the identity of the perpetrators and the victims of the Holocaust, so that the younger generation will not receive mistaken ideas about them.

The Economist

"Active engagement in knowledge creation through research," write the authors, "as opposed to simply teaching from textbooks...may help faculty hone their analytical skills and consequently emphasize a more rigorous approach to problem solving".

The Economist

John McCain as ambassador to Iraq (by putting someone of his stature there we emphasize how important we think it is to help Iraq succeed).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "underscore" or "highlight" to avoid repetition and add nuance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "emphasize" without clearly explaining why something is important. Simply stating that something is emphasized without providing supporting details weakens the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "emphasize" is as a transitive verb. It requires an object, indicating what is being given importance or prominence. Ludwig examples show its use in highlighting key points or aspects within a given context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "emphasize" is a grammatically sound and versatile verb used to highlight the importance of specific aspects within a given context. With a neutral register, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it finds frequent application across diverse fields such as Science and News & Media. When using "emphasize", it's helpful to provide clear context on why the highlighted information is significant to improve your writings. If you want to avoid repetition, alternatives like "highlight", "underscore", and "stress" can add variety to your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

underscore

Focuses on drawing attention to a specific aspect, similar to underlining in text.

highlight

Implies making something stand out clearly.

stress

Signifies placing particular importance or pressure on a specific point.

accentuate

Means to make something more noticeable or prominent.

bring attention to

Involves directing focus towards something.

draw attention to

Implies causing something to be noticed.

call attention to

Means to specifically point something out.

give prominence to

Focuses on making something stand out in importance.

lay emphasis on

Means to particularly focus on something

place emphasis on

Similar to 'lay emphasis on', indicating a specific focus.

FAQs

How to use "emphasize" in a sentence?

You can use "emphasize" to indicate that you are giving special importance or extra weight to something. For example, "I want to emphasize the importance of teamwork in this project".

What can I say instead of "emphasize"?

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

Which is correct, "emphasize" or "emphasise"?

"Emphasize" is the standard spelling in American English, while "emphasise" is more common in British English. Both are correct, but usage depends on the regional context.

What's the difference between "emphasize" and "stress"?

While both words indicate importance, "emphasize" generally means to give particular importance or attention to something. "Stress" can also imply pressure or urgency, in addition to importance.