underscore

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "underscore" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize meaning in a sentence. For example: "I want to underscore the importance of communication in any relationship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His indecisive leadership style and lack of vision underscore the country's lack of direction, as it is losing competitiveness and foreign investment.

The Guardian - Opinion

"These observations underscore the importance of considering more than the unemployment rate when evaluating the condition of the US labour market," she said.

The Guardian - Business

Cashman has seemed to underscore that in recent years by raising his public profile.

The New York Times - Sports

I can't underscore this enough for companies.

The Guardian

It's a moment meant to underscore Kyle's lifelong commitment to protect others, but the ultimate message is that anyone not in Special Forces is sloppy or uncommitted.

The Guardian - Opinion

Having identified these regions, the hope is that future work can measure how the brain performs in situations such as share selection, gambling or deciding to participate in a pension scheme.David Laibson, an economist at Harvard University, thinks that such experiments underscore the big role that expectations play in a person's well-being.

The Economist

While these figures are now out of date by nearly four years, they underscore the magnitude of the gap between China and the developed world and how difficult it would be to close that gap even under the most excessive of Chinese wage inflation scenarios.

The Economist

He visited Oradour to underscore French unity and innocence even though the Vichy government had collaborated with France's occupiers and abetted the deportation of close on 80,000 French Jews.

The Economist

An architect vetting last-minute changes can call up blueprints into the Zanvas window and visibly underscore various components, while the client scrutinises the revisions from a personal computer located elsewhere on the Internet.

The Economist

The numbers underscore growing imbalances in savings and trade between them and the world's rich countries.

The Economist

As we shovel down chicken teriyaki and rice at a modest izakaya (an informal eatery, and one of Japan's culinary treasures), he relates three incidents that underscore the point.First, he learned that a notable author on Asian business would be coming to Tokyo.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "underscore" to subtly emphasize a point without being overly assertive. It is particularly effective in formal writing and presentations.

Common error

Avoid using "underscore" excessively in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "highlight" or "emphasize" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "underscore" is as a transitive verb. It signifies the act of emphasizing or highlighting something, drawing attention to its importance or significance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "underscore" functions as a transitive verb used to emphasize or highlight the significance of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, which is predominantly observed in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "emphasize", "highlight", or "underline" to maintain clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emphasize

Focuses on giving special importance or prominence to something.

highlight

Draws attention to something to make it stand out.

accentuate

Makes something more noticeable or prominent.

stress

Places particular emphasis or importance on something.

underline

Similar to "underscore", but can also refer to drawing a line beneath text.

reiterate

Repeats something for emphasis or clarity.

call attention to

Directs focus or notice toward something.

bring to the fore

Brings something into prominence or consideration.

drive home

Emphasizes a point forcefully and effectively.

lay emphasis on

Specifically focuses on placing importance on something.

FAQs

How can I use "underscore" in a sentence?

You can use "underscore" to emphasize or highlight something, for example: "I want to "underscore" the importance of proper research."

What are some alternatives to using "underscore"?

Alternatives include "emphasize", "highlight", or "underline", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more formal to say "underscore" or "emphasize"?

"Underscore" and "emphasize" are both suitable for formal contexts, but "underscore" can sometimes carry a slightly more subtle or understated tone compared to the directness of "emphasize".

Can "underscore" be used in contexts other than writing?

While primarily used in writing to mean to underline, the more common usage of "underscore" is to emphasize the significance of something, applicable to various situations beyond just written text.