- Are you unsure whether to “make,” “give,” or “place” emphasis on a point?
- Do you want to sound more professional and natural in your business presentations?
- Have you ever struggled to find the right adjective to describe how important a topic is?
Mastering emphasis collocations is a vital step toward English fluency. In English, words don’t live in isolation; they live in “neighborhoods” called collocations. Using the right combination of words—like saying “place emphasis” instead of “make emphasis”—reduces your cognitive load, helps you stop translating from your native language in your head, and makes your English sound sophisticated and natural to native speakers.
Essential Collocations using EMPHASIS as a Noun
In most professional and academic contexts, “emphasis” is used as a noun. It is almost always followed by the preposition on. Let’s look at the most common ways to use it.
Verbs used with “Emphasis”
These verbs describe the act of highlighting or prioritizing something.
- Place emphasis on: (Standard/Professional) “The company places great emphasis on employee well-being.”
- Put emphasis on: (Common/Neutral) “The teacher put a lot of emphasis on grammar in today’s lesson.”
- Lay emphasis on: (Formal/Academic) “The report lays heavy emphasis on the need for budget cuts.”
- Shift emphasis: (To change focus) “We need to shift the emphasis from sales volume to customer satisfaction.”
- Add emphasis: (To increase the force of a statement) “He bolded the text to add emphasis to his main point.”
Adjectives used with “Emphasis”
Use these adjectives to describe the strength or type of focus being applied.
- Great/Strong emphasis: “There is a strong emphasis on safety in the construction industry.”
- Particular/Special emphasis: “The course has a particular emphasis on conversational skills.”
- Heavy emphasis: “The university puts a heavy emphasis on independent research.”
- Growing/Increasing emphasis: “There is a growing emphasis on renewable energy sources.”
- Undue emphasis: (Negative/Too much) “Don’t put undue emphasis on minor mistakes; focus on the big picture.”
Common Collocations with EMPHASIZE as a Verb
When you want to use the action word, you use the verb emphasize. Note that unlike the noun form, the verb does not use the preposition “on.”
Adverbs used with “Emphasize”
These adverbs modify how you highlight a point.
- Strongly emphasize: “I want to strongly emphasize that this deadline is non-negotiable.”
- Repeatedly emphasize: “The doctor repeatedly emphasized the importance of a balanced diet.”
- Specifically emphasize: “The manual specifically emphasizes the need to unplug the device before cleaning.”
- Further emphasize: “To further emphasize my point, let’s look at these statistics.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Place emphasis on | Verb + Noun | To give importance to something. |
| Strong emphasis | Adjective + Noun | A high level of importance or focus. |
| Shift emphasis | Verb + Noun | To change the focus from one thing to another. |
| Strongly emphasize | Adverb + Verb | To highlight something very clearly. |
| Lay emphasis on | Verb + Noun | A formal way to say you are prioritizing something. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common “learner errors” to ensure your English sounds polished and accurate.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make emphasis on… | Place/Put emphasis on… |
| He emphasized on the results. | He emphasized the results. (No preposition with the verb) |
| Give a big emphasis. | Place great emphasis. |
| The emphasis to the project. | The emphasis on the project. |
Contextual Story
“In our latest quarterly meeting, the CEO decided to shift the emphasis from aggressive expansion to sustainable growth. She placed particular emphasis on retaining our current client base rather than just chasing new leads. During her presentation, she strongly emphasized that every department must put a heavy emphasis on quality control. To add emphasis to her message, she shared a testimonial from a long-term customer who valued our reliability over our price.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Emphasis Collocations
Do I need to use “on” after the verb “emphasize”?
No. This is a very common mistake. You “emphasize something” (verb), but you “place emphasis ON something” (noun). For example: “I want to emphasize the importance of sleep” vs. “I want to place emphasis on the importance of sleep.”
What is the difference between “place emphasis” and “lay emphasis”?
“Place emphasis” is the most common and versatile choice for both speaking and writing. “Lay emphasis” is slightly more formal and is frequently found in academic writing or legal contexts.
Can I say “big emphasis”?
<pWhile "big emphasis" is understandable in casual conversation, it sounds slightly informal or "un-collocated" to native speakers. In 2024, the more natural and professional choice is "great emphasis," "strong emphasis," or "heavy emphasis."
What is “undue emphasis”?
“Undue” means more than is necessary or reasonable. If you put “undue emphasis” on a minor detail, it means you are worrying about it or focusing on it more than you should.
What are some synonyms for “place emphasis on”?
Depending on the context, you can use “prioritize,” “highlight,” “stress,” or “underscore.” However, “place emphasis on” remains one of the most common collocations in professional English.
I found this very practical for my business emails. I want to sound professional, and these tips are golden. Thank you!
Fantastic to hear, Li Wei! Using precise and natural collocations like 'place emphasis' will certainly elevate your business communication. We're glad we could help!
This article beautifully illustrates why context is king in English. It's not just about knowing words, but knowing their partners.
Precisely, Hiroshi! You've hit on a core principle of advanced English learning. Understanding words within their natural contexts and collocations is what truly sets fluent speakers apart.
What's the difference between 'shift emphasis' and 'change emphasis'? Are they completely interchangeable?
Good question, Nina! 'Shift emphasis' and 'change emphasis' are indeed very close in meaning and often interchangeable. 'Shift' sometimes implies a more subtle or gradual movement of focus, while 'change' can be more direct. However, in most contexts, using either will be perfectly understood and natural.
I'm a teacher, and I've often struggled to explain *why* certain words go together. This 'neighborhoods' analogy is brilliant. I'm going to use it in my next class!
We're delighted to hear that, Ravi! The 'word neighborhoods' analogy often resonates well with learners as it provides a clear visual for the concept of collocations. We wish you and your students great success!
This makes so much sense! It's like learning a secret code for sounding more native. The advice about stopping translation in my head is invaluable.
Exactly, Gabriela! Learning collocations is indeed like unlocking a secret level in English fluency. Keep practicing, and you'll find that mental translation step disappearing more and more!
Could you provide more examples of 'lay heavy emphasis on'? I'm trying to expand my academic vocabulary.
Certainly, Jun! Here are a couple more examples: 'The new policy document lays heavy emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable practices.' or 'During the seminar, Professor Lee laid heavy emphasis on the theoretical framework, ensuring students understood its foundational principles.' It's excellent for academic writing!
The article is spot on! I was just editing a report and wondering if 'make emphasis' was okay. Glad I read this before submitting it!
Perfect timing, Isabelle! We're so glad we could help you fine-tune your report. Choosing the correct collocation can really polish your professional communication.
Any regional variations for these? Like, do Americans prefer 'put' and Brits 'place,' or is it more about context?
That's a very perceptive question, Oscar! While both 'put emphasis' and 'place emphasis' are widely understood and used across different English varieties, 'place emphasis' might be slightly more favored in formal or professional contexts in both US and UK English. The choice is generally more about the desired level of formality and context rather than a strict regional preference. Both are perfectly acceptable!
I always default to 'put emphasis,' which is good to know is 'common/neutral.' But I will try to incorporate 'place emphasis' more in my formal writing now. Great article!
That's an excellent plan, Fatima! Gradually incorporating more formal options like 'place emphasis' into your writing will definitely elevate its sophistication. Keep up the great work!
This is so true about words living in 'neighborhoods.' It helps me think about English not just as individual words, but as patterns. How can I practice finding more collocations like these?
That's a brilliant way to think about it, Kenji! To practice, we recommend reading extensively (books, articles, blogs), listening actively (podcasts, news), and paying close attention to which words frequently appear together. Using a collocation dictionary, keeping a collocation notebook, and trying to incorporate new collocations into your speaking and writing are also highly effective strategies!