to highlight this

USAGE SUMMARY

"to highlight this" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you might say: "I included a graph in my presentation to highlight this key finding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Word stem completion tasks help to highlight this point.

The Guardian

"We are not keen to highlight this," the spokeswoman said.

The New York Times

Mr Wolf is surely right to highlight this.

The Economist

The painful  benefit cuts taking effect in the same week only serve to highlight this contrast.

Independent

From a political standpoint, we don't want to highlight this issue.

The New York Times

Reader John Loader writes from the beautiful Finnish city of Tampere to highlight this intriguing sight on a central bridge.

The Guardian - Business

The reason I want to highlight this is because it has turned out to be something rather massive.

The Guardian - Tech

Acutely conscious of the diverse and pluralistic nature of Indian society, Joshi made efforts to highlight this in his art.

The Guardian - Music

To highlight this work would have empowered, strengthened and encouraged those who are working so hard, often to personal detriment.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I think it's completely right to highlight this and ask questions and try and get this clarified," said Bruce.

The Guardian

"So tomorrow we will be joining many other tech companies to highlight this issue on our U.S. home page".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to highlight this", ensure that the context clearly indicates what "this" refers to. Ambiguity can weaken the impact of your statement. Use it to transition smoothly from a previously mentioned idea to a more detailed explanation or example.

Common error

Avoid using "to highlight this" excessively in your writing. It can become repetitive and dilute the impact of your message. Instead, vary your language with synonyms like "to emphasize this" or "to underscore this" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "to highlight this" is to serve as an infinitive phrase acting as an adverbial phrase of purpose. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in initiating a clause that explains the intention behind a statement, action, or example.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

6%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to highlight this" is a versatile and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves as an adverbial phrase of purpose, employed to draw attention to a specific point or detail, often introducing examples or explanations. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. While the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's important to avoid overuse and ensure clear connections to the referenced content to maximize its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to emphasize this

Focuses on stressing the importance of something, rather than making it visually stand out.

to underscore this

Implies drawing attention to something by indicating its significance or relevance.

to bring attention to this

Emphasizes the act of making something noticeable or prominent.

to draw focus to this

Suggests directing attention towards a specific element or point.

to spotlight this

Uses a metaphorical image of a spotlight to emphasize and make something highly visible.

to foreground this

Places something in the most prominent position, emphasizing its importance.

to accentuate this

Focuses on making something more noticeable, often in a positive or enhancing way.

to stress this

Indicates placing importance or emphasis on a particular aspect or detail.

to call attention to this

More direct way of saying make something noticeable.

to point out this

Suggests explicitly indicating something to ensure it is noticed or understood.

FAQs

How can I use "to highlight this" in a sentence?

You can use "to highlight this" to introduce an example, explain a key point, or emphasize a contrast. For instance, "The data reveals a significant increase in sales; "to highlight this", Q3 figures show a 25% rise."

What are some alternatives to "to highlight this"?

Alternatives include phrases like "to emphasize this", "to underscore this", or "to bring attention to this", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "to highlight this"?

While grammatically correct, overuse or vague references can weaken the impact of "to highlight this". Ensure the connection to the previous statement is clear and consider alternative phrasing for variety.

What is the difference between "to highlight this" and "to emphasize this"?

"To highlight this" suggests making something visually or noticeably prominent, while "to emphasize this" focuses on stressing the importance or significance of something. The choice depends on whether you want to draw attention or stress importance.