underlined to him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underlined to him" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning in context. Example: "The important points were underlined to him in the document."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In his letter, Mr. Annan said that in his reprimand of Mr. Lubbers he had in particular "underlined to him his duty to defend the right of staff members to make complaints about all forms of misconduct, and to be protected from any type of reprisal or retaliation against them, regardless of the outcome of the complaint".

The New York Times

He said experience underlined to him there was enough untapped talent in the country to sustain an international team.

BBC

For Jay, it underlined to him the spheres of privilege that run throughout Western society.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He underlined her importance to him, six months before he died.

The Guardian - Books

The Libyan war underlined for him the need for a better European capacity to fight, including military planning, separately from NATO.

The New York Times

It was immaculate – with Ilya underlining that Elena belongs to him, regardless of her treachery, and making not particularly veiled threats.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

As the tributes pouring out to him yesterday underlined, he had something of Cary Grant's swagger – a good-looking Jack the Lad, who excelled at playing chancers.

Independent

"We are trying to reach out to everybody and I am sure, sooner than later, I will get across to him," he said, underlining a conciliatory approach that has so far not borne results.

BBC

When his teacher asked in Spanish how dolphins communicate, a boy next to him reached over to underline the right answer.

The New York Times

Cardiff defender Sean Morrison underlined Slade's approach, saying: "The boys have taken to him really well.

BBC

He said the script appealed to him because of the basic values it underlined and because the themes were universal even though the story was local.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you aim to emphasize or highlight something to someone, prioritize using clearer and more common alternatives like "emphasized", "highlighted", or "made clear" rather than "underlined to him". This ensures your message is easily understood and avoids potential grammatical ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "underlined to him" in formal writing or professional communication. It's often perceived as grammatically incorrect and can detract from the clarity and professionalism of your message. Opt for more standard phrases like "emphasized to him" or "made clear to him" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underlined to him" attempts to function as a verb phrase, indicating the act of emphasizing something to someone. However, Ludwig AI identifies this construction as not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "underlined to him" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English, although it appears infrequently across various sources. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. For clearer and more effective communication, it's best to use alternatives such as "emphasized to him", "highlighted to him", or "made clear to him", which are more grammatically sound and widely accepted. Given the limited examples, and the fact that the phrase appears in News & Media, it is suggested to avoid this specific construction in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emphasized to him

Replaces "underlined" with "emphasized", focusing on the act of stressing importance.

underscored for him

Employs "underscored", a synonym for "underlined", with a slightly more formal tone.

highlighted to him

Substitutes "underlined" with "highlighted", implying drawing attention to something.

stressed to him

Replaces "underlined" with "stressed", indicating a firm communication of importance.

pointed out to him

Uses "pointed out" instead of "underlined", focusing on bringing something to his attention.

made clear to him

Replaces "underlined" with "made clear", emphasizing clarity of communication.

indicated to him clearly

Emphasizes the clarity of the indication, making the message easily understandable.

brought to his attention

Uses a more formal structure to indicate something was highlighted for him.

drew his attention to

Focuses on directing his focus towards a specific element.

impressed upon him

Conveys a strong sense of emphasizing something to make an impact.

FAQs

How can I use "underlined to him" in a sentence?

While not standard English, you might see "underlined to him" used informally. However, consider alternatives like "I emphasized it to him" or "I made it clear to him" for clearer communication.

What can I say instead of "underlined to him"?

You can use alternatives like "emphasized to him", "highlighted to him", or "made clear to him" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "underlined to him" or "emphasized to him"?

"Emphasized to him" is grammatically correct and more widely accepted in standard English than "underlined to him".

What's the difference between "underlined to him" and "highlighted to him"?

While both aim to draw attention, ""highlighted to him"" is generally preferred and more grammatically sound. "Underlined to him" is less common and can sound awkward.