have been underscored

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have 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

9 human-written examples

Cities are increasingly vying for nonprofit and government financing now available as concerns about the obesity epidemic have been underscored by Michelle Obama and others.

The New York Times - Health

The risks have been underscored by Carnegie Mellon University, which found that malicious insider activity goes undetected for, on average, 32 months (pdf).

The Guardian

The United Nations strongly shares these concerns, which have been underscored vocally by the group's supporters internationally, among them a number of U.S. and European officials and former officials.

The New York Times

Political tensions that have been underscored lately by Iraq's tortured progress to sovereignty seem to have prompted coalition officials in recent days to highlight what they regard as the accomplishments of the occupation.

The New York Times

That directive appears to have been underscored by the weapons used in last week's attacks.

Los Angeles Times

The perils of the nation's antiquated gas lines themselves have been underscored by accidents in recent years.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Khanna argues what I and others in corporate diplomacy have been underscoring for years: that companies must be willing to adapt -- and where appropriate, overhaul -- their operational models to succeed in new markets.

Huffington Post

Recent scholarly literature and professional standards have been underscoring the importance of such "soft" skills for physicians, along with sufficient medical knowledge and clinical skills [ 3- 9].

BMC Health Services Research

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been underscored" when you want to subtly emphasize a point that has already been mentioned or is implied, rather than introducing a completely new idea. It's effective for reinforcing existing understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "have been underscored" too frequently, especially when a more direct and impactful verb like "emphasized", "highlighted", or "demonstrated" would be more effective. Vary your language to keep your writing dynamic and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been underscored" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something has received emphasis or attention. Ludwig AI shows this construction is commonly used to highlight the importance of an idea, issue, or trend.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been underscored" is a grammatically correct and acceptable way to indicate that something has been emphasized or highlighted. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and utility. While "have been underscored" is most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it is versatile enough for various formal settings. Remember to use it when you want to subtly reinforce an existing point rather than introducing a new idea. Consider alternatives like "have been emphasized" or "have been highlighted" to prevent overuse and maintain dynamic writing. Its moderate frequency suggests it should be used judiciously to maximize impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been emphasized

Focuses more directly on the act of emphasizing, rather than the subtle highlighting implied by 'underscored'.

have been highlighted

Indicates a more prominent display or focus, making something stand out more clearly.

have been stressed

Implies a forceful emphasis on a particular aspect or element.

have been brought to the fore

Suggests moving something into a position of greater visibility or importance.

have been brought into focus

Conveys the idea of making something clearer and more distinct.

have been accentuated

Highlights something by increasing its prominence or intensity.

have been brought to light

Implies revealing something previously unknown or hidden.

have been made prominent

Directly states that something has been made more noticeable or important.

have been amplified

Suggests increasing the intensity or importance of something.

have been brought home

Emphasizes making something fully understood or appreciated.

FAQs

How can I use "have been underscored" in a sentence?

The phrase "have been underscored" is used to emphasize something that has already been mentioned or implied. For example, "The importance of education "has been underscored" by recent studies."

What are some alternatives to "have been underscored"?

You can use alternatives such as "have been emphasized", "have been highlighted", or "have been stressed" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "have been underscored" in formal writing?

Yes, "have been underscored" is suitable for formal writing. It is a grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase used in academic, business, and news contexts. However, ensure it fits the tone and style of your writing.

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

"Have been underscored" is often used figuratively to mean 'emphasized' or 'highlighted', while "have been underlined" can be used literally (something was physically underlined) or figuratively (importance was directly stated).