to emphasize differences

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to emphasize differences" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing or highlighting the distinctions between two or more subjects, ideas, or items. Example: "The study was designed to emphasize differences in behavior between the two groups."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Countering the tendency to emphasize differences between slave and free states, Salafia argues that these systems of labor were not so much separated by a river as much as they evolved along a continuum shaped by life along a river.

University of Pennsylvania

First, it enables the retina to emphasize differences of colour in adjacent parts of the field, especially when the boundary between them moves, as indeed it is continually doing in normal vision because of the small involuntary movements of the eyes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Those two characteristics (comparable anhydrous T g s and Q n distributions) allow us to emphasize differences that characterize the hydrous quenched melts rather than differences related to the starting anhydrous glasses.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

And so what we're doing now–and I'm not looking to emphasize differences, and we intentionally don't want to be overly specific because, again, we're looking to be collaborative, and there's a lot of bipartisan agreement.

Forbes

Third, previous research fails to emphasize differences in occupational interaction and traditional social capital based on affinity (relatives, friends, etc).. Furthermore, such network component differences may lead to a phenomenon whereby both are provided with diverse features at the time of exerting labor market effects.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

The mood is set by music, characters discuss it, and writers use it to emphasize differences between generations.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Switzerland's rugged topography and multicultural milieu have tended to emphasize difference.

Britannica

In this context, King's dream of a just and equal society was unachievable because the vision itself seemed to emphasize difference.

Los Angeles Times

Be cautious to not emphasize differences too much and "other" what you don't know.

WikiHow

Behind this focus there is the premise – a "corroding effect" in the words of Banting and Kymlicka (2006) – that "multiculturalism policies are said to erode solidarity because they emphasize differences between citizens, rather than commonalities" (p. 11).

Comparative Migration Studies

We would like to emphasize the differences between Asian and Western femoral morphology and point out that this difference should be used as a guide to improve the design of commercially available femoral stems particularly for Asian populations.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to emphasize differences", ensure that the context clearly identifies what is being compared and why highlighting the differences is important.

Common error

Avoid using "to emphasize differences" when the differences are already obvious. Instead, use it to highlight subtle or important distinctions that might otherwise be overlooked.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to emphasize differences" functions as an infinitive phrase that often introduces or explains the purpose of a particular action or comparison. It indicates the intention to highlight the distinctions between two or more entities, concepts, or situations, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to emphasize differences" serves as a useful tool for highlighting distinctions and clarifying unique aspects in various contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. While the phrase is prevalent in scientific and news-related articles, it is also appropriate for academic, encyclopedic, and even formal business writing. To enhance your writing, consider employing it strategically to bring subtle but important variations to the forefront. When used appropriately, it enhances clarity and directs the audience’s attention to key distinctions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to highlight disparities

This alternative focuses on highlighting the variations that exist.

to accentuate distinctions

This option stresses making the distinctions more noticeable.

to underscore contrasts

This phrase emphasizes drawing attention to the contrasting elements.

to foreground dissimilarities

This alternative is more formal and indicates bringing the differences to the forefront.

to bring differences into focus

This phrase implies clarifying and highlighting the differences.

to call attention to variations

This alternative is more direct and simply means to point out the variations.

to stress divergences

This highlights the act of emphasizing the points where things diverge or split.

to point out differences

This is a simple and direct way of indicating differences.

to distinguish between

This focuses on the act of differentiating one thing from another.

to contrast

This is a more concise way to convey showcasing the differences between two things.

FAQs

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

You can use "to emphasize differences" to introduce a comparison where you want to highlight the distinctions between two or more things. For example, "The study was designed to emphasize differences in behavior between the control group and the experimental group".

What are some alternatives to "to emphasize differences"?

Alternatives include "to highlight disparities", "to accentuate distinctions", or "to underscore contrasts", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to emphasize differences or similarities?

Whether to emphasize differences or similarities depends on the context and your purpose. Emphasizing differences can help distinguish between options, while emphasizing similarities can build common ground or show relatedness.

What's the difference between "to emphasize differences" and "to highlight differences"?

While both phrases are similar, "to emphasize differences" suggests a more forceful or deliberate act of pointing out distinctions, whereas "to highlight differences" simply means to bring attention to them. "To highlight differences" is a more general term.