What is it?

Emphasis is a way of drawing attention to certain words or ideas. It can be done through italics, bolding, using words like 'very' or 'really', or repeating a point. It's a tool for guiding the reader's focus.

Examples

How to Avoid This

Use emphasis sparingly. If everything is emphasized, then nothing is. In formal writing, it's often better to use strong word choice and sentence structure to create emphasis rather than relying on formatting.

How to Counter This

Be aware of how emphasis is being used to influence your perception. Ask yourself if the emphasized point is really as important as the author is making it out to be.