Emphasise vs. Emphasis — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 2, 2024
Emphasize is the action of giving importance, while emphasis is the state of being important.
Difference Between Emphasise and Emphasis
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Emphasize is a verb that denotes the action of giving special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing. On the other hand, emphasis is a noun referring to the special importance, value, or prominence given to something.
When you emphasize something, you make it stand out in a sentence or discourse, often using vocal stress, formatting, or repetition. Emphasis, however, is the result or effect of emphasizing, indicating the area or point that has been made prominent.
To effectively communicate, speakers and writers often emphasize key points to ensure they are noticed by the audience. Whereas, the emphasis in a message guides the audience's understanding and perception of what is considered most important.
Using tools like italics or bold text in writing, or stress in speech, are methods to emphasize. The emphasis within a text or speech shapes how the audience interprets and values the information presented.
Emphasize and emphasis, while closely related, serve different roles in communication—the former being an action and the latter the effect or result of that action.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Noun
Function
To give special importance or prominence
The importance or prominence given
Usage
In action, making something stand out
As a concept, indicating what is important
Example
"The speaker emphasized the key points."
"The emphasis was on sustainability."
Outcome
The act of highlighting something as important
The state of being highlighted as important
Compare with Definitions
Emphasise
To give special importance to something.
Writers often emphasize important points by using bold type.
Emphasis
The weight or value given to a part of a text or speech.
There was a particular emphasis on the last chapter of the book.
Emphasise
To insist on the importance of something.
She emphasized the importance of punctuality at the meeting.
Emphasis
The strength or intensity of expression that gives impressiveness.
His emphasis on the word immediately made everyone take notice.
Emphasise
To make something more clearly defined.
The teacher emphasized the need for thorough research.
Emphasis
The aspect of a given topic considered most important.
Her talk put an emphasis on the need for civic engagement.
Emphasise
To highlight something as significant.
The report emphasizes the impact of climate change on agriculture.
Emphasis
Special importance or significance attached to something.
The emphasis on quality control is evident throughout the company's operations.
Emphasise
To stress upon something in speech or writing.
He emphasized his argument with well-chosen examples.
Emphasis
A special stress or indication of importance.
The curriculum places a strong emphasis on practical skills.
Emphasise
(British spelling) emphasize
Emphasis
Special forcefulness of expression that gives importance to something singled out; stress
A lecture on housekeeping with emphasis on neatness.
Paused for emphasis, then announced the winner's name.
Emphasise
To place emphasis on; same as emphasize.
Emphasis
Special attention or effort directed toward something
A small-town newspaper's emphasis on local affairs.
Emphasise
Give extra weight to (a communication);
Her gesture emphasized her words
Emphasis
Prominence given to a syllable, word, or words, as by raising the voice or printing in italic type.
Emphasise
To stress, single out as important;
Dr. Jones emphasizes exercise in addition to a change in diet
Emphasis
Special weight or forcefulness given to something considered important.
He paused for emphasis before saying who had won.
Emphasis
Special attention or prominence given to something.
Anglia TV's emphasis is on Norwich and district.
Put emphasis on the advantages rather than the drawbacks
Emphasis
Prominence given to a syllable or words, by raising the voice or printing in italic or underlined type.
He used a yellow highlighter to indicate where to give emphasis in his speech.
Emphasis
(phonology) The phonetic or phonological feature that distinguishes emphatic consonants from other consonants.
Emphasis
(typography) The use of boldface, italics, or other such formatting to highlight text. en
Emphasis
A particular stress of utterance, or force of voice, given in reading and speaking to one or more words whose signification the speaker intends to impress specially upon his audience.
The province of emphasis is so much more important than accent, that the customary seat of the latter is changed, when the claims of emphasis require it.
Emphasis
A peculiar impressiveness of expression or weight of thought; vivid representation, enforcing assent; as, to dwell on a subject with great emphasis.
External objects stand before us . . . in all the life and emphasis of extension, figure, and color.
Emphasis
A special attention given to, or extra importance attached to, something; as, a guided tour of Egypt with emphasis on the monuments along the Nile.
Emphasis
Something to which great importance is attached; as, the need for increased spending on education was the emphasis of his speech.
Emphasis
Special importance or significance;
The red light gave the central figure increased emphasis
The room was decorated in shades of gray with distinctive red accents
Emphasis
Intensity or forcefulness of expression;
The vehemence of his denial
His emphasis on civil rights
Emphasis
Special and significant stress by means of position or repetition e.g.
Emphasis
The relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch);
He put the stress on the wrong syllable
Common Curiosities
How can one effectively emphasize a point?
Effective emphasis can be achieved through vocal stress in speaking or using formatting tools like bold or italics in writing.
What is emphasis in communication?
Emphasis is the special importance, value, or prominence given to something within communication, guiding how information is received and understood.
What does it mean to emphasize something?
To emphasize means to give special importance or prominence to something, making it stand out.
Why is emphasis important in communication?
Emphasis is crucial as it helps convey the main points clearly, ensuring the audience understands the most important aspects of the communication.
What is the difference between emphasize and emphasis?
Emphasize is the verb that describes the action of giving importance, while emphasis is the noun representing the state of being important.
Can emphasis change the meaning of a sentence?
Yes, emphasis can significantly change the meaning or perception of a sentence by highlighting certain parts over others.
Is emphasizing always intentional?
While emphasizing is often intentional, unintentional emphasis can occur, especially in spoken communication, based on tone or stress.
How do you identify emphasis in writing?
In writing, emphasis can be identified through formatting (bold, italics), punctuation (exclamation points), or the context of the text itself.
What role does emphasis play in persuasive writing?
In persuasive writing, emphasis is used to highlight arguments and evidence, making the persuasive elements stand out to the reader.
How does emphasis relate to emphasis in linguistics?
In linguistics, emphasis pertains to the ways stress, intonation, and structure highlight certain parts of speech to convey meanings or intentions.
Is emphasis always verbal?
No, emphasis can also be non-verbal, such as through gestures in speech or formatting in writing.
Can the same word be both emphasized and be an emphasis?
Yes, in different contexts, the same word can act as the action of emphasizing (emphasize) or the result of that action (emphasis).
Can emphasis vary between cultures?
Yes, cultural differences can influence how and what we emphasize, affecting both verbal and non-verbal communication styles.
Can emphasis affect the tone of communication?
Yes, the way emphasis is used can significantly affect the tone, making the communication more urgent, important, or persuasive.
What is visual emphasis in design?
In design, visual emphasis is used to draw attention to certain elements through contrast, color, size, and placement, similar to emphasizing in writing or speech.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
