have been underlined

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been underlined" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The key points of the text have been underlined for reference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

It must have been underlined.

The Guardian

Those contradictions have been underlined by "Opening the Closed Society," a yearlong celebration of the anniversary of integration.

The New York Times

The risks of ending up on the wrong side of American foreign policy in some emerging markets have been underlined.

The Economist

Meanwhile, the extent to which ministers are on the back foot on the issue seems to have been underlined by another amendment, put forward by the government.

The Guardian

The point could have been underlined by mentioning that G.E. changed its mind about plans, announced in 2008, to spin off or sell the appliance business.

The New York Times

The risks have been underlined in recent days as a flurry of companies, including Dendreon, Cubist Pharmaceuticals and Inspire Pharmaceuticals reported failures or setbacks in clinical trials, sending their share prices down as much as 75percentt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Live Aid concerts, Government spokesmen have been underlining the extent and scope of Britain's aid to Ethiopia and other famine-stricken areas of Africa.

The Guardian

The centrality of this issue has been underlined for me recently by three developments.

The Guardian

"That has been underlined by the abrupt correction in asset prices over recent weeks".

The New York Times

The duality of the Habsburg monarchy had been underlined from the very beginning of the war.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The dreadful state of the Italian economy has been underlined by the latest official figures.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been underlined" when you want to indicate that certain aspects or points have been given specific emphasis, either literally or figuratively, within a discussion or text.

Common error

Avoid using "have been underlined" in highly informal settings, as it can sound overly formal or academic. Opt for simpler phrases like "were highlighted" or "were emphasized" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been underlined" functions as a passive voice construction of the verb 'underline'. It is used to indicate that something has received emphasis or attention. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been underlined" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate emphasis or highlight important aspects, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It finds frequent application in both news and scientific contexts, conveying the significance of specific points or issues. While appropriate for neutral to formal registers, it's advisable to avoid overusing it in highly informal settings. Remember that accurate use depends on subject-verb agreement: use "has been underlined" for singular subjects and "have been underlined" for plural. Alternatives like "have been emphasized" and "have been highlighted" can offer variety while maintaining semantic similarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been underscored

Substitutes 'underlined' with 'underscored', providing a direct synonym.

have been emphasized

Uses 'emphasized' instead of 'underlined', focusing on general stress rather than specific highlighting.

have been highlighted

Replaces 'underlined' with 'highlighted', suggesting a more visual emphasis.

have been stressed

Uses 'stressed' to convey that something has been given particular importance.

have been accentuated

Emphasizes the act of making something more noticeable.

have been foregrounded

Similar to 'brought to the fore', emphasizing prominence.

have been brought to the fore

Indicates something has been moved to a prominent position.

have been brought into focus

Suggests a clarification or sharper definition of something.

have been pointed out

Focuses on the act of drawing attention to something specifically.

have been brought to light

Implies that something previously unknown has been revealed.

FAQs

How to use "have been underlined" in a sentence?

You can use "have been underlined" to emphasize that certain aspects or points have been given specific emphasis. For example, "The risks "have been underlined" in recent days."

What can I say instead of "have been underlined"?

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

Is it correct to say "has been underlined" or "have been underlined"?

"Has been underlined" is used with singular subjects, while "have been underlined" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The issue has been underlined" versus "The issues have been underlined."

What's the difference between "have been underlined" and "have been underscored"?

"Have been underlined" and "have been underscored" are very similar in meaning and often interchangeable. Both indicate emphasis, but "have been underlined" can also refer to the literal act of drawing a line under text.