Emphasis in Writing Techniques > Use of language > Modifying meaning > Emphasis in Writing Strong words | Using space | Text devices|Don't over-do it |See also Sometimes you have to persuade through the written word alone which, if this is makes up only 7% of communication, makes it very difficult to persuade. There are, however, several ways to emphasis in written language. Strong words One way of enlivening and emphasizing in written text is to use strong words that trigger emotional reactions. Just as strong words in spoken language grab attention, so they also work in written work. "If you really love me then you will..."Using space When a word or phrase is embedded within a sentence, it does not stand out as well. You can use the space on the page to make what you want people to remember to stand out, so... Remember to Save the Whales Text devices Written words can also be made to stand out by using the standard text devices, as below: Method Usage Italics Gives light emphasis. Use for subtle stressing ofwords. Underline More insistent. Works well for emphasis of a complete phrase. Some people only use italic and bold, in which case the difference will cause attention. Bold Is clearly visible when you first look at the whole page. Can create tension as they read towards it. This can be useful if done deliberately. size Bigger fonts stand out more and small fonts recede. But beware of reducing readability by mixing font sizes too much. punctuation! In particular the exclamation mark, gives a strong emphasis. Use sparingly. Be very careful when using multiple marks!!! It can be interpreted as either enthusiasm or attempted manipulation. UPPERCASE Is the written equivalent of shouting. Avoid where possible, including use in headings.
