This document discusses techniques for emphasizing important information in written communication. It defines emphasizing as giving special importance or value to something in writing. Emphasizing is important to project the core idea, make communication more effective, establish purpose, and ensure attention and retention. Techniques discussed include emphasizing through position, repetition, space, sentence structure and word choice, and mechanical means like italics, underlining, bolding, font size, case, and color. Key points are best placed at the beginning and end of a section to emphasize them.
2. MEANING OF EMPHASIZING
Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary
Emphasizing means “give special importance or value to
something in speaking or writing”
Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary
Emphasizing means “to show or state that something is very
important or worth giving attention to make something more obvious”
3. NEED FOR EMPHASIZING
To project core idea
To make communication more effective
To establish purpose
To ensure attention and retention
To help in reference
4. TECHNIQUES OF EMPHASIZING
Emphasizing by position
Emphasizing by repetition
Emphasizing by space
Emphasizing by sentence structure and words
Emphasizing by mechanical means
5. EMPHASIZING BY POSITION
The beginnings and endings of a unit of written communication
carry more emphasis than the center parts
Place central idea in the beginning and ending
Emphasize these key ideas through sentence style, paragraph and
message
The initial and terminal positions of sentences are prime.
The last words of the sentence are normally the most emphatic.
6. EXAMPLES
1)I can write letters much more quickly using a computer
In this example, for emphasizing, the subject was changed
to computer, then,
“The computer enables me to write letters much more
quickly.”
2)Mario M, North American Politician and ex-governor of
New York
“Mario M, politician and ex-governor of New York.
7. EMPHASIZING BY REPETITION
Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or
phrases a few times to make an idea clearer. There are several
types of repetitions commonly used in both prose and poetry.
1. Repetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the
next.
Example:
"My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain."
--Shakespeare, Richard III
8. Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive
clauses or verses.
Example:
I want her to live. I want her to breath. I want her to
aerobicize.(Weird Science,1985)
9. EMPHASIZING BY SPACE
It means giving more space to central idea.
If one gives more space on the topic then the topic will get
more emphasis.
Give major points more discussion space; use less space for
minor points.
Example :
10. EMPHASIZING BY SENTENCE
STRUCTURE AND WORDS
Place important information in short phrases or simple sentences so that it
will not have to compete with other information for the readers attention.
This can be done by;
1) careful choice of words
2) use of strong words
3) use of active voices
4) developing proper sentence and paragraph
5) repeat key words
12. EMPHASIS BY MECHANICAL MEANS
1) Using Italics
Gives light emphasis. Used for sophisticated emphasis of
words.
Example :
The opera Vanessa is written by Samuel Barber
13. 2) Underlining
More insistent. Works well for emphasis of complete
phrase. Underline will bring attention.
Example :
Answer all the questions.
3) Bolding
It helps in clear vision when we first look at the page. The
emphasized text stands out from the rest of the text.
14. 4) Setting size
Bigger fonts stands out more and small fonts recede.
But beware of readability by mixing font sizes too
much.
Uppercase and lowercase.
15. Uppercase characters are capital letters.
Lowercase characters are small letters.
Example:
pen- lowercase
PEN-uppercase
16. 5)Colour
Colour play an important role in emphasizing the words.
Colour can sway thinking, change actions and causes
reactions.