stressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "stressing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as both a verb, meaning to place emphasis or to try to cause anxiety and worry, and as a noun, meaning a feeling of worry or a situation that causes worry. Example sentence: I was stressing over the results of my final exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Worldwide sales from the two drugs are expected to reach £3bn by January, but the company rejected claims it was exploiting the pandemic – stressing that profits would be much lower once development costs were taken into account.

The Guardian - Business

Rubio tried to put distance between himself and the White House by stressing that it was not so much what Obama was trying to do, but how he was trying to do it – without legislation – that should anger Republicans.

The Guardian

Kerry will seek "an immediate cessation of hostilities based on a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement," the White House said, stressing the need to protect civilian life both "in Gaza and in Israel".

The Guardian

Merkel made clear at a joint press conference with Cameron that she was prepared to help Britain – while stressing that her patience was finite – as she outlined a framework for the negotiations.

The Guardian

David Laws, the Lib Dem schools minister, has played down suggestions of tensions in the government over a key education policy by stressing the difference between ministerial responsibilities and individual party policies in a coalition.

The Guardian

Finally, given a totally clean bill of physical health, I was asked if anything was stressing me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Climate change is not on the agenda in the upcoming G20 gathering in Australia, to the surprise of other nations, with Abbott stressing that economic growth and job creation must be a priority.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It certainly is a threat to national security," he added, stressing that a comprehensive response is needed.

The Guardian

While stressing over exams is universal – 96% of 1,300 respondents to a Childline national exam stress survey said they were affected – test anxiety is in another league.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nelson echoed Baroness Young in stressing the need for organisations to sell the "employer brand" and to demonstrate that their charity is a good place to work and that it continues to deliver high-quality work.

The Guardian

And while Washington talks of isolating Russia because of Ukraine, Berlin is saying the opposite, stressing engagement and keeping channels open to the Kremlin.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "stressing" with strong verbs to amplify the impact of your statement. For instance, "stressing the need" is more impactful than simply "stressing".

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "stressing" in formal contexts. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, vary your language with alternatives like "emphasizing", "highlighting", or "underscoring" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stressing" is that of a present participle, often used to form continuous verb tenses or functioning as an adjective. As Ludwig AI indicates, it places emphasis or causes worry.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stressing" functions primarily as a present participle used to emphasize or highlight something, or to indicate causing worry. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is frequently encountered in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives such as "emphasizing" or "highlighting". The word's versatility and common usage make it a valuable tool in effective communication. When using "stressing", ensure clarity in what you are emphasizing to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emphasizing

Highlights the act of giving particular importance or prominence to something.

highlighting

Focuses on making something stand out or be easily noticed.

underscoring

Implies drawing attention to something to emphasize its importance.

accentuating

Refers to making something more noticeable or prominent.

pointing out

Suggests directly calling attention to a specific detail or fact.

drawing attention to

Indicates directing focus or awareness towards something.

laying emphasis on

Emphasizes the act of giving importance to something.

placing importance on

Signifies attributing significance or value to something.

making a point of

Denotes deliberately emphasizing or highlighting something.

asserting

Suggests stating something confidently and forcefully.

FAQs

How can I use "stressing" in a sentence?

You can use "stressing" to indicate emphasis or importance, as in "The report is stressing the need for immediate action", or to indicate that something is causing worry, as in "I'm stressing about the upcoming deadline".

What is a good alternative to using "stressing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "emphasizing", "highlighting", or "underscoring". Each carries a slightly different nuance of emphasis.

Is it grammatically correct to use "stressing"?

Yes, "stressing" is the present participle of the verb "stress" and is grammatically correct when used in continuous verb tenses or as a gerund or participle.

What's the difference between "stressing" and "stressed"?

"Stressing" is the present participle, indicating an ongoing action (e.g., "He is stressing the importance"), while "stressed" is the past participle or past tense, indicating a completed action or a state of being (e.g., "He stressed the importance" or "He felt stressed").