emphasize to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "emphasize to" is correct and usable in written English.
You might use it when you want to stress the importance of something to someone. For example, "I emphasized to my son the importance of doing his homework every night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I can't emphasize to you how much.

The New York Times

was to emphasize to defendant Blue Cross..

Harvard University

"We want to emphasize to the public, this is not some distant problem of the future.

The Guardian

"This is the key point that I want to emphasize to the America people," Obama said.

The Guardian

"I try to emphasize to students how they should tie their ties," he says.

The New Yorker

CANDIDATES conduct polls to determine which parts of their platform to emphasize to particular voting blocs.

The New York Times

"I cannot emphasize to you how fine I am about this," he said.

The New York Times

General McChrystal has sought to emphasize to troops how such cases undermine Afghan support.

The New York Times

"I have to emphasize to him that without an education he won't go far," Ms. Reddick said.

The New York Times

Yet many companies fail to emphasize to their employees the importance of carefully choosing, and frequently changing, their passwords.

The New York Times

"I really want to emphasize to visitors the quality of the collection that we have here," Dr. Neil said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "emphasize to", ensure that the importance of the message aligns with the context, choosing more impactful words for critical situations.

Common error

Avoid using "emphasize to" repeatedly in the same text. Vary your language with synonyms like "highlight to" or "stress to" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "emphasize to" functions as a verb phrase that introduces an explanation or instruction. It directs the act of stressing the importance of something towards a specific recipient. It's used to highlight key aspects or requirements, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "emphasize to" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to highlight the importance of a message or instruction to a specific audience. As supported by Ludwig AI, it is widely employed across varied contexts, notably in news, scientific and business communications. While it is generally appropriate, writers should avoid overuse and consider alternatives such as "highlight to" or "stress to" to maintain clarity and impact. Furthermore, ensure the message's gravity justifies the emphasis to maintain authenticity and avoid diluting its effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Highlight to

Focuses on drawing attention to something, making it stand out.

Stress to

Indicates a strong urging or insistence on something.

Underscore to

Similar to emphasize, but with a connotation of reinforcing a point.

Point out to

Directs attention to a specific detail or fact.

Call attention to

Draws focus to something, potentially highlighting its significance.

Impress upon

Suggests a deeper, more lasting effect on someone's understanding.

Bring to someone's attention

A more formal and indirect way of making someone aware of something.

Make someone aware of

Focuses on informing someone about something, potentially highlighting its importance.

Remind someone of

Focuses on bringing something back to someone's memory, often with an implicit emphasis.

Explain the importance of

Focuses more on the explanation rather than direct emphasis.

FAQs

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

Use "emphasize to" when you want to stress the importance of something to someone, such as, "I need to "stress to" him the importance of punctuality."

What are some alternatives to "emphasize to"?

Alternatives include "highlight to", "stress to", or "point out to", each carrying slightly different nuances of conveying importance.

When is it appropriate to use "emphasize to" in formal writing?

"Emphasize to" is suitable for formal writing when you need to convey the importance of a particular aspect, as in, "The report "highlights to" management the urgent need for budget revisions."

How does "emphasize to" differ from simply "emphasize"?

"Emphasize to" specifically directs the emphasis towards a person or group, while "emphasize" can be used more generally. For example, "I "highlight to" the team the need for better communication" versus "I emphasize the need for better communication."