emphasize sense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "emphasize sense" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to highlight the importance of understanding or perception, but it may require additional context for clarity. Example: "In this discussion, we need to emphasize sense to ensure everyone understands the implications of our decisions."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In "Cupid's Chokehold" Mr. McCoy half-sings his lyrics, but for most of the rest of the time, he's a straight-ahead rapper, delivering long and sometimes tedious lines that emphasize sense over sound; he mainly avoids the tricky polysyllabic rhymes and shifting metrical schemes that currently rule hip-hop.

The New York Times - Arts

Other studies have indicated that not only do students perform better on concept tests when given specific guidelines for peer discussion (Lucas, 2009) but also that students place more value on articulating their responses when instructors emphasize "sense making" over "answer making" (Turpen and Finkelstein, 2010).

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

One study focused on children with leukemia assessed a CD-ROM based education program through a randomized control trial that emphasized sense of control [ 28].

BMC Pediatrics

Our framework draws on social constructivist theory (Vygotsky 1978; Cobb 1994) that emphasizes sense-making activity in the context of social mediation and negotiation.

International Journal of STEM Education

First, I have here emphasized sensing errors that lead to underestimation of substrate availabilities, because only such errors lead to an undercapacity to metabolize nutrients.

BMC Systems Biology

Generative, "mimetic" ambiguity (that is, the sort of ambiguity that reflects real-world ambiguities and therefore helps us think and act through such ambiguities) is central to metamodernism; those who suppose metamodernism to merely emphasize "making sense" misconstrue metamodernism if they think the "sense" it offers us is an uncomplicated or easily disentangled one.

Huffington Post

"The rituals emphasize a sense of mortality, that life is short, and you have a mission to make something of your life," he said.

The New York Times

To emphasize a sense of mystery, the main hall is organized in a slight arc, so that it reveals itself only gradually.

The New York Times - Arts

The American Heart Association revised its influential dietary guidelines today to emphasize common sense in choosing daily fare and to play down the percentages of fat or nutrients in foods.

The New York Times

The spots emphasize a sense of security with taglines like "Strength Lives Here," "Peace of Mind Lives Here" and "Safety Lives Here".

The New York Times

Eden and Van Dyke have written slightly contrasting memoirs of the ups and downs of being TV pioneers, but both emphasize their sense of themselves as ordinary people who seized their big breaks through diligence and a totally sympathetic feeling for their roles.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "emphasize sense" when you want to highlight the importance of understanding or perception in a specific context. Ensure that the context makes it clear what kind of sense is being emphasized (e.g., common sense, a sense of direction).

Common error

Avoid using "emphasize sense" as a generic substitute for "understand" or "perceive". The phrase works best when you're specifically highlighting the act of making sense of something or prioritizing a particular kind of understanding. Otherwise, use more direct language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "emphasize sense" functions as a directive, urging focus on understanding or perception. Ludwig examples show it used to highlight the importance of common sense or a particular kind of understanding, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment of its context-dependent clarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "emphasize sense" is an acceptable but not exceedingly common way to express the importance of understanding or perception. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's context-dependent, working best when specifying the type of sense being emphasized. While grammatically sound, consider stronger alternatives like "stress understanding" or "highlight comprehension" for clearer communication. Usage is relatively neutral, fitting well in news, media, and scientific discussions, but avoid overusing it in very general contexts. Remember to prioritize clear and direct language for optimal impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stress understanding

Replaces "sense" with "understanding", focusing on comprehension.

highlight comprehension

Uses "highlight" instead of "emphasize" and "comprehension" instead of "sense".

underscore meaning

Employs "underscore" to replace "emphasize" and "meaning" to substitute "sense", shifting the focus to significance.

focus on reason

Replaces "emphasize" with "focus on" and "sense" with "reason", emphasizing logical thought.

accentuate logic

Substitutes "emphasize" with "accentuate" and "sense" with "logic", stressing a rational approach.

prioritize sensibility

Uses "prioritize" instead of "emphasize" and "sensibility" instead of "sense", highlighting responsiveness.

draw attention to perception

Replaces "emphasize" with "draw attention to" and "sense" with "perception", focusing on awareness.

bring out the logic

Uses more conversational phrasing, replacing "emphasize" with "bring out" and focusing on "logic".

make understanding prominent

Highlights the act of understanding, using "prominent" to denote importance.

call attention to rationale

Replaces "emphasize" with "call attention to" and "sense" with "rationale", stressing a logical justification.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "emphasize sense" to sound more natural?

Consider alternatives like "stress understanding", "highlight comprehension", or "underscore meaning" depending on the specific context.

What does it mean to "emphasize sense" in an argument?

To "emphasize sense" in an argument means to prioritize logical reasoning, clear understanding, and practical considerations over emotional appeals or abstract theories. It suggests a focus on making the argument easily understandable and relatable.

Is "emphasize sense" formal or informal language?

"Emphasize sense" is relatively neutral but leans towards a more formal tone due to the verb "emphasize". In very informal contexts, phrases like "focus on what makes sense" might be more appropriate.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "emphasize sense"?

It's appropriate when you want to highlight the importance of a particular kind of understanding or perception. For example, "The new guidelines emphasize common sense" or "The training program emphasizes a sense of responsibility".