specifically underscore

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "specifically underscore" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to emphasize a particular point or detail, but the combination of "specifically" and "underscore" is awkward and unclear. Example: "I want to specifically underscore the importance of teamwork in our project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These results reveal the complex action of the innate and adaptive immune responses in patients and specifically underscore the role of IFN-γ in disease pathophysiology.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

His intention of specifically underscoring the African heritage comes across in pairs of heads treated as traditional tribal masks, and in powerful background patterns that are inspired by schemetized textile designs.

The New York Times

Thus, the only illustrated metaphor Darwin ever provided in any edition of Origin of Species specifically underscored the notion of evolution as one of selective accumulation of diversity rather than selective replacement.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

What this study specifically underscores is the importance of taking a coherent and purposeful approach toward the design of digital student-directed educational technology, especially for ELL students who may have specific learning needs.

Computers & Education

Additionally, the shift towards demonstrable competencies for physicians generally and pathologists specifically, underscores the need to direct training towards efficiently accomplishing the task, rather than just filling a time-defined period of apprenticeship.

Pathology

The president specifically underscored the "killing of and violence against civilians, unrest, the incitement of imminent violence, and significant political repression," as cause for concern.

Vice

In fact, in a widely lauded initiative announced two years ago, the Administration specifically underscored the importance to our economy of making sufficient spectrum resources available to help all wireless providers keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies and accommodate growing consumer demand.

Huffington Post

Obama specifically sought to underscore that while Muslims have a responsibility to identify and reject extremism within their ranks, Americans cannot lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of Islam's more than a billion followers are peaceful.

The Guardian

Set aside this exhibition's awkward attempts to underscore the specifically Jewish character of Modigliani's work (for example, curators point to his formal fascination with noses); for anyone chiefly familiar with the masklike faces and stylized bodies of Modigliani's later paintings, this trove of early drawings will be a revelation.

The New Yorker

Several of the newly available documents, while not specifically related to the recounts, underscore Ms. Harris's political loyalties.

The New York Times

51 They also underscore scientific gaps in the experimental evidence, specifically the lack of studies involving healthy populations and interventions targeting fish intake rather than using supplements, which may have different mechanistic effects.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "specifically underscore" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more common alternatives like "particularly emphasize" or "clearly highlight" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Using "specifically underscore" often results in an awkward and unclear sentence. While the intention might be to add emphasis, the combination of these words doesn't flow naturally. Instead, choose more direct and stylistically appropriate alternatives to improve clarity and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase aims to emphasize a particular point or detail. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the combination of "specifically" and "underscore" is awkward. Its intended function is to add focused emphasis, but it is rarely the most effective choice.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "specifically underscore" aims to provide emphasis, it's generally considered an awkward and uncommon construction. Ludwig AI analysis suggests it's better to opt for clearer alternatives such as "particularly emphasize" or "clearly highlight". These alternatives provide a more natural flow and maintain a professional tone. Though found in science and news contexts, its infrequent and stylistically questionable usage makes it a less desirable choice in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly emphasize

Replaces "specifically underscore" with a more common and stylistically appropriate alternative, focusing on emphasis.

clearly highlight

Uses "highlight" instead of "underscore", making the phrase clearer and more direct.

explicitly emphasize

Substitutes "specifically" with "explicitly", creating a more formal and precise tone.

especially stress

Emphasizes the importance of something using "especially" and "stress".

particularly point out

Focuses on drawing attention to a specific detail or aspect.

clearly indicate

Replaces the emphasis with a sense of making something evident.

unambiguously highlight

Stresses the clarity of the emphasis, removing any doubt.

precisely define

Shifts the focus to accurate and detailed definition, rather than mere emphasis.

uniquely emphasize

Highlights the distinctiveness of the emphasis.

notably underscore

Uses "notably" to signify the significance of the underscoring.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "specifically underscore"?

You can use alternatives like "particularly emphasize", "clearly highlight", or "explicitly emphasize" depending on the context.

Is "specifically underscore" grammatically correct?

While the individual words are correct, the combination "specifically underscore" is considered grammatically awkward and stylistically weak. It's better to use more common and natural-sounding phrases.

How can I use "underscore" effectively in a sentence?

Use "underscore" with adverbs that provide a more natural flow, such as "strongly underscore", "clearly underscore", or "significantly underscore". Avoid using "specifically" directly before it.

When should I use "underscore" versus "highlight"?

"Underscore" is used to emphasize or stress something, while "highlight" is used to draw attention to something. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize importance or simply draw focus.