seek to underscore

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seek to underscore" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to emphasize or highlight a particular point or idea in your writing. Example: "The author seeks to underscore the importance of mental health awareness in her latest book."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Thus did Warren Christopher, our Secretary of State, seek to underscore the seriousness of the warning that representatives of 16 countries concerned with the Bosnian war issued to the marauding Bosnian Serbs on July 21.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Updike sought to underscore his arrogance.

The New Yorker

On Friday, Ms. Quinn's spokesman sought to underscore her willingness to take controversial stances on principle.

The New York Times

Mr. Bradley sought to underscore that theme by calling Mr. Gore "a loyal No. 2".

The New York Times

In his prepared testimony, Mr. Paulson sought to underscore the huge risks to everyday Americans.

The New York Times

In his talks with Frattini, Gates sought to underscore the seriousness of the overall Iranian threat.

The Guardian

Those who had campaigned for a leave vote sought to underscore the new opportunities for the UK and its businesses.

The Guardian - Business

In a conference call with analysts Wednesday, DreamWorks Animation executives sought to underscore the work they were doing to diversify away from movies.

The New York Times

On Wednesday, Mr. Bernanke sought to underscore that the Fed still planned to stimulate the economy on a big scale over the next few years.

The New York Times

Mr. Sullivan sought to underscore Mr. Gomez's lack of political or government experience, grilling him at one point about his history with managing budgets and making cuts.

The New York Times

The company sought to underscore Friday that it now conducted business with greater sobriety, even though losses on old loans would persist for years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seek to underscore", ensure that the context clearly identifies what is being emphasized and why it is significant. The phrase is most effective when used to highlight a crucial point within a broader argument or discussion.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "seek to underscore" can sound overly formal in casual writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "highlight" or "emphasize" in less formal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seek to underscore" functions as a verb phrase indicating an intention or effort to emphasize a particular point or idea. As noted by Ludwig AI, it expresses the act of trying to highlight something important.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seek to underscore" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to emphasize a specific point or idea. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility in written English. While more appropriate for formal contexts, it effectively conveys an intentional effort to highlight something significant. Its usage is most commonly found in news and media, indicating its role in conveying important information. Alternatives include phrases like "aim to emphasize" and "strive to highlight", allowing for nuanced expression depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim to emphasize

Replaces "seek" with "aim", focusing on intention and purpose rather than explicit action.

set out to underline

Uses "set out" suggesting intentional action and "underline" as a direct synonym for underscore.

strive to highlight

Uses "strive" to convey effort and "highlight" to indicate drawing attention to something important.

endeavor to stress

Employs "endeavor" suggesting a determined effort and "stress" to emphasize importance.

attempt to emphasize

Replaces "seek" with attempt, signifying an effort made to emphasize something.

try to bring attention to

Indicates an effort to make something noticeable or known.

make an effort to emphasize

Replaces "seek" with a more verbose phrase showing exertion in emphasizing something.

work to bring out

Focuses on the effort to reveal or emphasize particular aspects.

aspire to accentuate

This variation uses "aspire" to indicate ambition and "accentuate" which means make noticeable or prominent.

purpose to feature

This option emphasizes the intention to spotlight or prominently display something.

FAQs

How can I use "seek to underscore" in a sentence?

Use "seek to underscore" when you want to emphasize a particular point or idea. For example: "The author "seeks to underscore" the importance of education in her latest book".

What phrases are similar to "seek to underscore"?

Alternatives to "seek to underscore" include "aim to emphasize", "strive to highlight", or "endeavor to stress".

Is it appropriate to use "seek to underscore" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "seek to underscore" is more appropriate for formal writing or presentations. In casual conversation, simpler terms like "emphasize" or "highlight" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "seek to underscore" and "try to emphasize"?

"Seek to underscore" implies a deliberate and intentional effort to emphasize a point, whereas "try to emphasize" suggests an attempt that may or may not be successful. The former carries a tone of greater certainty or purpose.