only to emphasize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only to emphasize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that a particular action or statement is made specifically for the purpose of highlighting or stressing a point. Example: "She repeated her main argument, only to emphasize the importance of the issue at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Their juxtaposition seems only to emphasize cauliflower's soft flavor.

The New York Times - Food

Coleridge's genius is acknowledged, but only to emphasize the mystery of its ruin".

The New York Times - Books

To many listeners, the attribution of this sensational piece of information to the British served only to emphasize its reliability.

The New Yorker

Also, a string of tepid new songs served only to emphasize how visceral his older material was.

The New York Times - Arts

When compassion surfaces, it serves only to emphasize how often connections are missed; indeed, compassion is a character that none of the other characters can recognize.

The New Yorker

"If only to emphasize that I am human, and as fallible as anyone else, let me admit that these accolades do flatter me," he wrote.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

But this only serves to emphasize the lack of certainty in gene structures that exists for genes, like those encoding transcription factors, with low levels of expression and consequent poor EST evidence.

BMC Genomics

But such differences only serve to emphasize how universal the faith in the Resurrection was amid this variety of traditions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the rancorless goodbye only seems to emphasize what the city will miss.

The New York Times

But the intimate moments here only serve to emphasize the organization's tough, tenacious public face.

The New Yorker

But research has found that images like these only serve to emphasize that climate change has no relevance to our everyday lives.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only to emphasize" to introduce a clarifying remark or action that underscores a key point, ensuring the reader understands its importance.

Common error

Avoid using "only to emphasize" when the emphasis is already apparent from the surrounding text. Redundancy weakens your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only to emphasize" functions as an adverbial phrase. It serves to modify the verb in the main clause, indicating the purpose or intention behind the action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only to emphasize" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered connector used to highlight a specific point, predominantly in news and media and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is used to add clarity to a statement by drawing the reader's or listener's attention to its critical aspects. While effective, it should be used judiciously to avoid redundancy, as overuse can weaken the overall impact of your writing. Alternatives like "merely to stress" or "simply to highlight" offer subtle variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simply to highlight

Substitutes "emphasize" with "highlight" and "only" with "simply", indicating a basic clarification.

merely to stress

Replaces "emphasize" with "stress" and "only" with "merely", suggesting a more subtle highlighting.

just to underscore

Uses "underscore" instead of "emphasize" and "just" instead of "only", implying a reinforcement of a point.

solely to accentuate

Replaces "emphasize" with "accentuate" and "only" with "solely", suggesting a more focused highlighting.

purely to draw attention to

Replaces "emphasize" with "draw attention to" and "only" with "purely", indicating a clear intention to focus attention.

specifically to point out

Substitutes "emphasize" with "point out" and "only" with "specifically", indicating a direct intention to mention something.

particularly to bring attention to

Replaces "emphasize" with "bring attention to" and "only" with "particularly", suggesting a focused effort to highlight.

if only to underscore

Adds "if" for a conditional emphasis but maintains the main meaning.

principally to bring forth

Replaces "emphasize" with "bring forth" and "only" with "principally", which means to introduce or produce

chiefly to spotlight

Replaces "emphasize" with "spotlight" and "only" with "chiefly", which means to highlight someone

FAQs

How can I use "only to emphasize" in a sentence?

Use "only to emphasize" to introduce a statement that highlights a crucial point, for instance: "She repeated the data, "only to emphasize" its significance".

What phrases are similar to "only to emphasize"?

Alternatives include "merely to stress", "simply to highlight", or "just to underscore", each varying slightly in tone and intensity.

Is "only to emphasize" formal or informal?

"Only to emphasize" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, as it clearly and directly introduces emphasis.

When should I avoid using "only to emphasize"?

Avoid using "only to emphasize" when the emphasis is already clear, as this can make your writing sound repetitive. Use it sparingly for maximum impact.