has been underscored

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been underscored" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been emphasized or highlighted, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The importance of teamwork has been underscored in our recent meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The uncertainty has been underscored recently.

The New York Times

The charge sheet has been underscored here, at Lord's.

Independent

The futility of this simplistic classification scheme has been underscored by entire fields of science.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That point has been underscored repeatedly this week as on-the-fence lawmakers make their decisions.

The New York Times - Health

Trucking's tenuous status has been underscored by recent protests and demonstrations by drivers.

The New York Times

The power of the tabloid press to help silence women has been underscored in recent weeks.

The New Yorker

The proof has been underscored time and again during the nearly four-month-long qualifying series.

The New York Times - Sports

The perception that the vaccine does little for young men has been underscored by tepid endorsements from medical organizations.

The New York Times - Health

This year, the city's outsized political role has been underscored by the historic racial aspect of the presidential campaign.

The New York Times

For Mr. Hall and others in Kansas City, the futility of free-flowing incentives has been underscored by a border war between Kansas and Missouri.

The New York Times

But he declined to highlight Iran's cooperation at the talks in Bonn on fashioning a post-Taliban government, cooperation that has been underscored by the State Department.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been underscored" to subtly emphasize a point that reinforces a larger argument or idea. It's effective when you want to highlight an underlying significance rather than making a bold claim.

Common error

While "has been underscored" is grammatically sound, avoid overuse of the passive voice. Opt for active voice constructions when possible to make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The problem has been underscored by recent events", consider "Recent events underscored the problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been underscored" functions as a verb phrase in the passive voice. It indicates that something has been emphasized or highlighted, often in a non-literal, figurative sense. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

42%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been underscored" is a versatile and commonly used expression to emphasize or highlight a point. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in both news and scientific writing. While alternatives like "has been emphasized" or "has been highlighted" exist, "has been underscored" carries a subtle nuance of underlying significance. Remember to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse of the passive voice for clear and engaging writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been emphasized

Focuses more directly on the act of emphasizing, lacking the figurative aspect of 'underscoring'.

has been highlighted

Suggests bringing something to attention, similar to underscoring but less about underlying meaning.

has been stressed

Implies importance and urgency, which is a stronger emphasis than simply underscoring.

has been brought to the fore

Indicates prominence, often after being previously less noticeable, unlike 'underscored' which can be constant.

has been accentuated

Focuses on making something more noticeable, similar to highlighting, but can also imply exaggeration.

has been brought into focus

Emphasizes clarity and attention, implying that it was previously blurred or unclear.

has been brought to light

Implies revealing something previously unknown, adding a layer of discovery not present in 'underscored'.

has been given prominence

Focuses on importance and status, unlike underscoring, which is about underlying significance.

has been made much of

Suggests significant attention or importance, often implying a subjective evaluation.

has been impressed on

Indicates instilling a deep understanding or belief, differing from simple highlighting.

FAQs

How do I use "has been underscored" in a sentence?

"Has been underscored" is used to emphasize or highlight something, often subtly. For example, "The importance of education "has been underscored" by recent studies".

What are some alternatives to saying "has been underscored"?

You can use alternatives like "has been emphasized", "has been highlighted", or "has been stressed" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "has been underscored" or "was underscored"?

The choice depends on the context. "Has been underscored" implies ongoing relevance or a recent action with lasting impact. "Was underscored" refers to a specific event in the past with less emphasis on current implications.

What is the difference between "has been underscored" and "has been underlined"?

"Has been underscored" is a figurative expression meaning emphasized or highlighted, while "has been underlined" literally means a line has been drawn under text for emphasis. They are not interchangeable in most contexts.