highlighted a potential

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highlighted a potential" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that has brought attention to a possible issue, opportunity, or risk in a particular context. Example: "The recent study highlighted a potential risk associated with the new medication that needs further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

They have further highlighted a potential role of genetics in predicting stroke risk.

The Lancet Neurology

However, we have highlighted a potential challenge for both methods, which needs to be addressed when designing primers or probes.

New Biotechnology

He highlighted a potential change of fortunes for London in a note to clients after surveys showed that companies in the capital had taken a hit from the referendum result.

The Guardian - Business

McKelvie also highlighted a potential conflict of interest in Hearn's connections with social work managers from the Labour-controlled Islington council in north London, when there was widespread sexual abuse in children's homes.

The Guardian

Similarly, we identified distinct molecular subgroups of BRAF-mutant tumors, and multidimensional analyses highlighted a potential involvement of oncomiRs in less-differentiated subgroups.

Cell

But by beating the Conservatives in two of the three seats, the Independence Party, which campaigns against the E.U. and for tougher immigration controls, highlighted a potential threat to Mr. Cameron from the right.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

The action highlights a potential conflict between advocates of free, wireless networking and the broadband providers.

The New York Times

The news about the tests also highlights a potential rift between the league and the players union.

The New York Times - Sports

Lenders are much more understanding if you highlight a potential problem before it happens, rather than burying your head in the sand.

The Guardian - Money

Although cash buyers of Citizens are unlikely in the near term, it does highlight a potential source of substantial value within the group.

The Guardian - Business

But it enabled me to highlight a potential weak spot for this saviour complex that comes from the heart, but too easily ignores the head.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "highlighted a potential", ensure that the potential you are referencing is clearly defined and relevant to the context. Be specific about what might happen or what could be achieved.

Common error

While "highlighted a potential" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal documents. Vary your language with synonyms like "underscored" or "identified" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highlighted a potential" functions as a verb phrase, where 'highlighted' acts as the transitive verb, 'a' is a determiner, and 'potential' is a noun. It indicates the act of drawing attention to a possibility or something that could develop in the future, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highlighted a potential" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that serves to emphasize a possibility, opportunity, or risk. As verified by Ludwig, this phrase is used across diverse contexts, including science, news, and business. Although classified as uncommon, "highlighted a potential" is prevalent in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. To enhance writing, consider varying language with synonyms and ensuring clear definition and relevance of the potential being referenced. While versatile, this phrase can be overused in formal writing, so thoughtful word choice is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

underscored a possibility

Uses "underscored" instead of "highlighted", suggesting a more subtle emphasis.

pointed out a prospect

Replaces "highlighted" with "pointed out" and "potential" with "prospect", offering a less formal tone.

emphasized a chance

Uses "emphasized" and "chance" to convey a similar meaning with slightly less formality.

drew attention to a possibility

Rephrases the entire expression to focus on directing attention to a potential outcome.

flagged a possible issue

Employs "flagged" and "issue" to suggest a warning about a potential problem.

identified a prospective

Replaces "highlighted a potential" with "identified a prospective", focusing on the identification of a possible future outcome.

shed light on an opportunity

Uses metaphorical language to suggest revealing a potential benefit.

called attention to a risk

Focuses on negative potentials or threats.

signaled a likelihood

Highlights something that is likely to happen, rather than a possibility.

brought to the forefront a probability

This alternative focuses on bringing a probability to the foreground instead of a potential.

FAQs

How can I use "highlighted a potential" in a sentence?

You can use "highlighted a potential" to emphasize a possible opportunity, risk, or issue. For example: "The study highlighted a potential link between diet and disease."

What are some alternatives to "highlighted a potential"?

Alternatives include phrases like "underscored a possibility", "pointed out a prospect", or "emphasized a chance", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "highlighted a potential" or "highlights a potential"?

The choice between "highlighted a potential" and "highlights a potential" depends on the tense of your sentence. Use "highlighted" for past tense and "highlights" for present tense.

What's the difference between "highlighted a potential" and "identified a potential"?

"Highlighted a potential" suggests drawing attention to something that was already somewhat known or suspected, while "identified a potential" suggests discovering or recognizing something previously unknown.