underscoring the need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "underscoring the need" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the importance or necessity of something in a discussion or argument. Example: "The recent events have been underscoring the need for more comprehensive safety regulations in the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Auditors, regulators and banks largely missed Enron's skulduggery, underscoring the need for big changes.

The New York Times

Underscoring the need for the financial plan, the latest monthly report showed a $2.2 million deficit in January.

The New York Times

In recent years, however, the department's broader policies have come under fire, underscoring the need for stronger oversight.

The New York Times

But regular tests at the plant still turn up occasional traces of E. coli in trim, underscoring the need for additional steps, like a vaccine.

The New York Times

Pound suggested that genetic enhancement could be widespread among athletes within five years, underscoring the need to develop ways of detecting such abuse before it occurs.

The New York Times - Sports

However, many children continue to be referred late, underscoring the need for continued education of PCPs.

Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

However, the estimated effects of tax increase on smoking behavior vary substantially, underscoring the need to identify moderating variables.

Journal of Economic Psychology

Current therapies are limited, leaving up to 50% of patients symptomatic despite treatment, underscoring the need for additional treatment options.

Contemporary Clinical Trials

Conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy produce marginal survival benefits in pancreatic cancer, underscoring the need for novel therapies.

HPB

Treatment options are neither universally available nor always effective, underscoring the need for development of novel therapies and therapeutic strategies.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

The simulations also reveal complex kinematics of the valve leaflets, thus, underscoring the need for patient-specific simulations of heart valve prosthesis and other cardiac devices.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "underscoring the need" to formally introduce a crucial point or requirement that demands immediate attention. For example, "The budget cuts are underscoring the need for more efficient resource allocation."

Common error

Avoid using "underscoring the need" in casual conversation or informal writing. It sounds overly formal and can be replaced with simpler phrases like "shows we need" or "highlights the importance of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "underscoring the need" functions as a gerund phrase that acts as a present participle, modifying a noun or pronoun. It emphasizes a situation or event that highlights the necessity of something. It introduces the reason why something must happen or is important, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "underscoring the need" is a versatile gerund phrase used to emphasize the critical importance of a particular requirement or action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Commonly found in scientific, news, and formal contexts, this phrase serves to highlight the necessity of something, urging attention and action. While it is best suited for formal writing and professional settings, simpler alternatives should be considered for casual conversations. Phrases like "highlighting the necessity" or "emphasizing the importance" can serve as effective substitutes. This phrase, as the Ludwig examples show, often appears in research papers or news articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Highlighting the necessity

Focuses specifically on the element of necessity, similar to "underscoring the need".

Emphasizing the importance

Shifts the emphasis to the level of importance rather than directly the need.

Stressing the urgency

Highlights the time-sensitive nature of the need, adding a sense of immediacy.

Reinforcing the requirement

Emphasizes the mandatory aspect of the need, making it a formal demand.

Confirming the imperative

Emphasizes the absolute necessity, framing the need as an unavoidable command.

Illustrating the demand

Focuses on providing examples or evidence to showcase the need.

Pinpointing the exigency

Highlights the critical or urgent nature of the need.

Exhibiting the value

Shows the worth or merit of addressing the need.

Signaling the deficiency

Points out the lack or inadequacy that constitutes the need.

Indicating the shortfall

Highlights the insufficient quantity or amount that creates the need.

FAQs

How can I use "underscoring the need" in a sentence?

"Underscoring the need" is used to emphasize the importance of something. For example, "The recent data breach is "underscoring the need" for stronger cybersecurity measures".

What are some alternatives to "underscoring the need"?

You can use phrases like "highlighting the necessity", "emphasizing the importance", or "stressing the urgency" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "underscoring the need" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "underscoring the need" is generally more suitable for formal writing or professional settings. In casual conversations, simpler alternatives are often more appropriate.

What's the difference between "underscoring the need" and "highlighting the need"?

Both phrases are similar, but "underscoring the need" often implies a slightly stronger emphasis on the urgency or critical nature of the requirement compared to "highlighting the need".