heighten emotion

USAGE SUMMARY

"heighten emotion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an increase in emotion. For example, "The music was designed to heighten emotion during the scene."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Metaphor: Linking seemingly unrelated elements can heighten emotion and empathy.

The Washington Post

Only music can so thrillingly heighten emotion and illuminate motivation.

The New York Times

"In my opinion nationalism and separatism is just the populist's way to heighten emotion in politics.

The Guardian

This marriage of voice and string, and their use of pitch and tone to heighten emotion, have clear echoes in blues.

Independent

The show is about relating to these people and trying to understand where they're coming from". Arney explained that the way she constructed the exhibition was also designed to heighten emotion.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Movies also began as filmed theatre, but directors learned to use the camera to heighten emotions.

The New Yorker

Yet because brains are designed to heighten emotions during adolescence, coping with these challenges can be particularly difficult, making teens more prone to depression.

University of California, Berkeley

Then, too, the director drew on the Italian tradition of commedia dell'arte and its emphatic acting style to heighten emotions in the drama of passion and betrayal.

The New York Times - Arts

"To speak about 'a premeditated ambush' is not helpful and seems designed to heighten emotions in a quite gratuitous fashion," he said.

The Guardian

Abortion-rights advocates dismissed the videos as selectively edited propaganda intended to heighten emotions, not reveal facts.

Los Angeles Times

Because events that include the words "emergency" and "disaster" already raise the stakes and heighten emotions, the time to discuss possible scenarios is right now, today.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of art or music, use "heighten emotion" to illustrate how these mediums amplify feelings, creating a deeper connection with the audience.

Common error

While "heighten emotion" is acceptable, overuse in formal contexts can make writing sound melodramatic. Opt for synonyms like "intensify" or "amplify" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "heighten emotion" is to act as a verb phrase, where "heighten" is the verb (to increase or intensify) and "emotion" is the noun (feeling or affect). As shown in Ludwig's examples, it describes the act of intensifying a feeling.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heighten emotion" is used to describe the intensification of feelings. While grammatically sound, it is relatively rare in usage. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and can be used to describe an increase in emotion. It most commonly appears in news and media, and academia. When using the phrase, consider synonyms like "amplify emotion" or "intensify feelings" for varied expression. The phrase often describes art or music's impact on creating deeper emotional connections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amplify emotion

This alternative focuses on increasing the intensity or strength of the emotion.

intensify feelings

This phrase replaces emotion with feelings, emphasizing the subjective experience.

escalate emotions

This suggests a gradual increase in the level or degree of emotion.

enhance emotionality

This uses a more formal term, emotionality, to refer to the expression of emotions.

boost sentiments

Replaces 'emotion' with 'sentiments', suggesting a broader range of feelings is affected.

magnify the emotion

Emphasizes making an emotion larger or more significant.

exacerbate feelings

Implies making negative feelings worse, often unintentionally.

provoke emotion

This suggests causing a strong emotion to arise.

stir up emotions

Implies causing emotions to become active or agitated.

trigger sentiments

Suggests that sentiments are suddenly and forcefully activated.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "heighten emotion" in a sentence?

Use "heighten emotion" to describe how something intensifies feelings, such as, "The director used lighting to "heighten emotion" in the scene."

What are some alternatives to "heighten emotion" that I can use?

Alternatives include "amplify emotion", "intensify feelings", or "escalate emotions", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "heighten emotion"?

Yes, "heighten emotion" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard verb-noun structure in English.

In what contexts is "heighten emotion" most appropriate?

"Heighten emotion" is suitable in contexts where you want to describe the process of making emotions stronger or more intense, such as in discussions of art, music, or dramatic performances.