emphasis
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Special importance, significance, or stress given to something.
The prominence or clarity given to a syllable, word, or idea through linguistic or rhetorical means; a particular stylistic focus in art, music, or writing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun (plural: emphases). The concept is gradable (e.g., 'great emphasis', 'too much emphasis'). It often implies a deliberate choice to highlight one element over others.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. Spelling of derived verb: British 'emphasise' vs. American 'emphasize'. Minor preference variations in collocations exist.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American academic and business texts, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[emphasis] on [noun phrase]put/place/lay [emphasis] on [noun phrase]with [emphasis] on [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The emphasis is on...”
- “put the emphasis in the wrong place”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in strategy discussions: 'The new CEO placed a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction.'
Academic
Common in analyses: 'The author's emphasis falls on socio-economic factors rather than political ones.'
Everyday
Used in general conversation: 'The school puts a lot of emphasis on sports.'
Technical
In linguistics: 'The prosodic emphasis falls on the penultimate syllable.' In design: 'The emphasis in this layout is on simplicity.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager will emphasise the need for teamwork.
- He always emphasises the positive aspects.
American English
- The report will emphasize cost reduction.
- She emphasized the importance of being on time.
adverb
British English
- She shook her head emphatically.
- He stated it quite emphatically.
American English
- I must disagree emphatically.
- The policy was emphatically rejected.
adjective
British English
- The emphatic win delighted the fans.
- She gave an emphatic nod of agreement.
American English
- The committee's decision was emphatic.
- He was emphatic about his denial.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher put emphasis on speaking.
- There is a lot of emphasis on safety here.
- The company's new strategy places more emphasis on digital marketing.
- In his speech, the emphasis was on unity.
- The course shifts the emphasis from theory to practical application.
- Despite the government's emphasis on reform, little has changed.
- The critic argued that the film's stylistic emphasis on chiaroscuro overshadowed its narrative depth.
- Post-war policy saw a pronounced emphasis on economic reconstruction at the expense of social welfare.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'EMPHASIS' as 'EMPHatic Stress IS' key.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS WEIGHT (place heavy emphasis), IMPORTANCE IS VISIBILITY (bring into emphasis), IMPORTANCE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (shift the emphasis).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'акцент' as 'accent' in this context; use 'emphasis'. 'Сделать упор' is best rendered as 'place emphasis on', not 'make a support'. Beware of false friend 'эмфаза' (a linguistic term), which is narrower.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'emphasis over' instead of 'emphasis on'. Using as an uncountable noun in plural contexts (e.g., 'many emphases' is correct). Confusing 'emphasis' (noun) with 'emphasise/emphasize' (verb) in sentence structure.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'emphasis' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The plural is 'emphases' (pronounced /ˈem.fə.siːz/).
The standard preposition is 'on' (e.g., emphasis on quality). 'In' is used in specific contexts like 'a shift in emphasis'.
'Emphasis' is broader, referring to importance or stress in any context. 'Acccent' typically refers to pronunciation (a regional accent) or, in technical contexts, phonetic stress.
No, 'emphasis' is only a noun. The verb form is 'emphasise' (UK) or 'emphasize' (US).
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Rhetoric and Argumentation
C2 · 49 words · Advanced tools of persuasion and argumentation.
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