importance synonym for essay

130+ Synonyms for Important All Writers Should Know!

Discover our guide with synonyms for important to use when you’re looking for other words for important to use in your writing.

The word important is often overused in English grammar and writing. When a word hits the “over-used” category, it loses its impact. People stop paying attention to it when reading something.

As you look to spice up your writing, consider synonyms for important that carry more weight and meaning. You can use the thesaurus to source other words for important. It’s good practice to keep one at your writing desk and refer to it as you selfedit . If you’re in a rush, check out this list of synonyms for important.

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What Are Other Words for Important?

Synonyms for important to add to your writing vocabulary, other words for important: as in very important, other words for important: as in vital part, other words for important: as in attachment, other words for important: as in influential, other words for important: as in vital points, other words for important: as in severe, other words for important: as in good, other words for important: as in moments, other words for important: as in usefulness, other words for important: as in authoritarian.

The word “important” refers to an animate or inanimate object with significant influence and authority over someone or something. It’s a common and overused term, which makes learning its synonyms worthwhile. Using words other than “important” helps learners develop comprehension, enrich vocabulary, and prevent monotony in speaking and writing. 

As you look for ways to improve your writing , learning to substitute overused words for similar words with more specific meanings is helpful. Consider these related words if you use the word “important” or “importance” too often.

These words are the closest synonyms of the word “important.” They describe something of great importance or lasting effect on the person or place. You can also check out these synonyms for but .

As the man rose to the platform to deliver his speech, a portentous silence filled the 

The decisive battle won the war for the North. 

The CEO will make a big decision today.

One of the cardinal rules of self-love is to be honest to yourself.

We have a critical issue that needs to be resolved immediately.

An effective leader is crucial for a team to work.

Food, water, and shelter are essential for survival.

We are here to discuss the exigent issue of abuse of position.

• Far-reaching

How far-reaching the new king’s power will become is yet to be determined.

•   Front-page

The story of her success is front-page material.

•   Historical

The September 11 attacks are one of the most historical events in America.

•   Imperative

It’s a strong typhoon, so it is imperative that everyone evacuate tonight.

•   Key

Every Maya Angelou book has a key message you need to know.

•   Major

Poverty is a major problem in many countries.

•   Paramount

My family’s health and safety are paramount to mine.

•   Pivotal

Pia gets a pivotal role in the White House.

•   Pressing

I’d like an update on how you plan to solve the pressing issue concerning our new product.

•   Significant

There’s a significant increase in board passers this year.

•   Urgent

Please arrange an urgent meeting with all department heads.

The ability to attract an audience is vital in writing.

He collects all the weighty information about the topic of his essay.

These words represent an essential element or part that completes a person, thing, or idea and are critical to functionality.

The brain is the core of the human body.

• Fundamental

He uses current trends as the fundamental factor in starting his business.

Create a plan to improve the integral elements of our company.

Quality, simplicity, and affordability are the leading features of our shoes.

I already have the main ingredients to bake cookies.

It’s necessary to change your vacuum cleaner dust bag regularly.

Product testing is needed before selling it to the market.

They are the primary sponsors of this foundation.

Most wireless devices require good batteries to work.

We have to look at the root of this problem to solve it.

Asian countries’ staple food is rice.

My ultimate goal is to build a foundation to care for street dogs.

This is the most impactful aspect of the PowerPoint presentation.

Describing someone or something that has an emotional, sentimental, and important value is easier with these words.

He adores his wife very much.

Ivan plans to sell his beloved anime collection.

Channel loves to care for her grandmother.

Mom gave me the wedding ring she had cherished for her entire marriage.

My father made this table. It’s very dear to me.

Many people esteem Picasso’s paintings .

Contestant Number 3 is a crowd favorite . 

• Highly regards

My brother highly regards this restaurant.

He’s someone precious to me.

I consider my family and friends my priceless gifts.

The teacher says that her planner is her most prized possession.

People respect him even though he is no longer the president.

This presentation is very special to Steven.

Their love for each other is a treasure that cannot be stolen.

Those vintage accessories are very valuable to Helena.

These are words used to name and describe an individual with great power and influence over others.

•  Aristocrats

Many await the arrival of the aristocrats from neighboring kingdoms.

• Authorities

The authorities will be in charge of security at the festival.

Tom Holland already has a big name in Hollywood despite being young.

• Controlling

The king was good at controlling his soldiers.

The chief sends out the new station rules to all officers.

They are now one of the most dominant companies in the food industry.

She is famous for winning family court cases.

• High-profile

It’s our first time to have a high-profile passenger on board.

He is the charismatic leader of the best boy band in the world.

Andrei is the mighty captain of the school’s volleyball team.

His surname is a potent indicator of his authority wherever he goes.

There is no equal justice when the enemy is powerful .

• Prestigious

My grandfather was awarded a prestigious plaque for his excellence in teaching.

He is a prominent individual known for his humanitarian work.

Mark Twain is one of the most renowned writers in the world.

She’s from a royal bloodline.

We have a new superior at the precinct.

The top-level managers review the departments’ operations.

Prepare the private booth before the VIP arrives.

Matilda is a well-known top student and the go-to school representative.

•  High-level

The high-level executive came to tour the building.

To effectively discuss a topic or problem, you must use the right words to emphasize important points in written or verbal presentations.

The focal purpose of this meeting is to discuss the projects that need to be finished before the vacation.

First and foremost , let’s talk about the sales decline in recent months.

This delivery issue needs immediate resolution.

My tutor marked the topics that would be in the exam.

Lino’s continuous absence is of concern now.

We only hire people with pertinent experience in the industry.

The principal benefit of quitting smoking is improving one’s health.

Do we have past situations relevant to our problem today?

Let me start the meeting with the salient points of my presentation.

I hope everyone will have a solid plan to market our products by tomorrow.

The crowning of the King was a momentous occasion.

These words facilitate the expression of the level of seriousness or importance of the subject.

Leila was experiencing sudden acute stomach pain, so she was rushed to the clinic.

• Consequential

Building a new hospital is one of the consequential plans of the new mayor. 

Her entitlement will have a dire effect on her future.

• High-priority

All officers were asked to return to the station to solve the high-priority case. 

Environmental protection is a heavy issue that needs attention.

• Life-and-death

The police officers ask the relatives of the hostages to be calm despite the life-and-death situation.

Her sudden and mysterious death is newsworthy .

Inequality is a serious issue in the US.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is an acclaimed American songwriter with a tremendous talent for composing chart-topping hits.

Your child’s birthday is an unmissable event. 

•  Earthshaking

The earthshaking announcement of the company’s closing sent employees scrambling to find new work.

•  Paramount

Balancing the budget was the paramount issue in the most recent election for governor. 

These words indicate that something is important enough to sacrifice something valuable in exchange for it. It includes wasting time, effort, and money.

The arrival of a new baby is always a celebrated event.

• Great Significance

She didn’t realize the great significance of the statement until after the date was over.

• Advantageous

Investing in quality machines is advantageous because it makes production faster.

It’s beneficial to let your employees have at least two days of rest a week.

The ergonomic chair is a must-have for every home office setup.

She’s a practical buyer who always prioritizes quality. 

He hopes the new business venture will be very profitable .

It’s rewarding to help others who are in need.

• Serviceable

Upskilling your employees is more serviceable than buying modern work-related machines.

Martha’s donating her still usable old furniture.

I promise you that every sacrifice you make will be worth it i n the end.

He’s a great company. Every second I spend with him is worthwhile .

Use these words to denote the importance of a particular situation or occasion. These are positive and negative moments that affect a place or thing.

• Action-packed

It’s an action-packed day at court.

• Earth-shattering

The earth-shattering news of my grandfather’s passing brings our family closer together.

Holidays are an eventful season where everyone is happy and celebrating.

• Life-changing

Getting fired was a life-changing event that taught me many lessons.

Meeting his long-lost brother on his birthday makes it more meaningful .

As someone afraid of heights, bungee jumping is one of the scariest and most memorable experiences I have

America’s declaration of independence in 1776 was momentous .

A non-American group winning a Grammy this year is noteworthy .

The teacher left a remarkable lesson for his students on his last day at school.

These words describe a person or thing providing excellent benefits that make them important.

Yolanda is capable of completing the given task on time.

Jarred is competent in handling cold cases and providing answers to families.

My glutathione soap has been effective so far.

Ella is an efficient registered dentist.

• . Functional

My vintage oven is still functional , especially for roasting turkey.

My mother gave me a handy fan I can use during the hot days.

The detective’s asset has been of use to the police department.

Red is the most skilled painter I know.

She was a talented writer who published 80 books during her lifetime.

This expensive power bank is more useful than I thought.

If you want to describe a powerful but entitled individual, these are the words to use.

Manager Kim is the most arrogant person I know.

Since he got promoted, he has become big-headed .

She’s so bossy even outside of the office.

We’re disappointed that the management decided to promote someone so boastful .

It’s now normal to see Rico bragging about his wealth.

He’s always confident that everything he says and thinks is right.

• Dictatorial

The dictatorial government demanded higher taxes from its citizens.

He was a prideful individual who would rather eat his shoe than admit he had made a mistake. 

• Self-centered

Her self-centered nature pushed everyone away from her.

I don’t want to serve a stuck-up guy like him.

•  Big-league

He reached the big-league after putting in his time as a rookie.

•  Big-time

She did well at her piano recital, but she’s not quite ready for a big-time performance.

Looking for more? Check out our list of tricky words !

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• Writing Tips

Overused Words: Synonyms for “Important”?

3-minute read

• 15th January 2020

“Important” is a very useful word. But if you use it too often, your writing may become harder to read. As a result, it helps to know a few alternatives. Check out our guide to synonyms for ‘important’ below.

What Does “Important” Mean?

The adjective “important” means “of great value, meaning, or influence”:

The study produced some important results.

Here, we’re saying the study’s results were significant in some way. Ideally, we would then explain why the results are important and their consequences.

If we needed an adverb , we could use “importantly” instead:

Importantly , our findings also confirm those of other studies.

We use this term when describing an action or framing a sentence .

It is fine to use these words in formal writing. But if you find yourself using them too much, you may want to try using some of the following synonyms.

Synonyms for “Important” and “Importantly”

Some common synonyms for “important” you may want to use include:

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• Significant (e.g., The study produced some significant results )
• Crucial (e.g., She played a crucial role in the project )
• Vital (e.g., It is vital that we meet this deadline )
• Critical (e.g., The method used is critical for the results achieved )
• Major (e.g., We made a major decision about publishing rights )
• Substantial (e.g., The theory has a substantial place in the literature )
• Monumental (e.g., He is a monumental figure in history )
• Historic (e.g., It is a historic achievement )

And if you need a synonym for “importantly,” you can try the following:

• Significantly (e.g., The pilot study was significantly different )
• Crucially (e.g., We were, crucially , misinformed of her intentions )
• Vitally (e.g., Vitally , we gathered all the data required )
• Critically (e.g., More critically , the equipment failed during testing )

You should, however, be careful about synonyms with narrow meanings. For instance, while “historic ” implies that something is important, it is specifically of historical importance . As such, you should only use “historic” in place of “important” if you’re discussing historical significance.

Beware the Thesaurus!

Finally, a quick warning: The thesaurus is not always your friend!

For instance, you might find “big” listed as a synonym for “important.” In less formal writing, such as advertising copy, this would be fine:

We’ve got big news to share about our sale!

But “big” would sound out of place in formal or academic writing:

The study produced some big results.

If you’re looking for synonyms for “important” (or any word), then, make sure you know how to use it! This is mostly a matter of practice – reading and writing more until you get a sense of which terms you can use in which contexts. But having your work proofread can also help!

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Important Synonym: List of 45 Synonyms for Important with Useful Examples

Important synonym.

We all want to express ourselves clearly and effectively. But sometimes, that trusty old vocabulary just doesn’t cut it. That’s where synonyms come in – those wonderful words that share a similar meaning, but offer subtle variations in nuance.

Why are synonyms important?

• Variety: Replacing overused words with synonyms keeps your writing fresh and engaging.
• Precision: Different synonyms can convey slightly different shades of meaning, allowing you to pinpoint exactly what you want to say.
• Emphasis: Using a stronger synonym can add emphasis and impact to your writing.
• Formality: Formal synonyms can elevate your writing for professional contexts.

Important Meaning

• Having great significance, consequence, or value.
• Having a major impact or influence.

List of Synonyms for Important

Significant

Influential

Substantial

Consequential

Indispensable

Fundamental

High-priority

Distinguished

Outstanding

Important Synonyms with Examples

Here are synonyms for “ important ” along with their meanings and examples:

• Meaning : Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention.
• Example : The study’s findings are significant for future research in the field.
• Meaning : Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.
• Example : It is crucial to meet the project deadline.
• Meaning : Absolutely necessary or essential.
• Example : Water is vital for all known forms of life.
• Meaning : Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
• Example : Good nutrition is essential for maintaining health.
• Meaning : Important, serious, or significant.
• Example : The company announced a major breakthrough in its technology.
• Meaning : Of decisive importance to the success or failure of something.
• Example : His analysis was critical to the project’s success.
• Meaning : Of vital importance; crucial.
• Example : It is imperative to address the issue immediately.
• Meaning : Of paramount or crucial importance.
• Example : Education is a key factor in economic development.
• Meaning : Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.
• Example : The invention of the internet was a pivotal moment in modern history.
• Meaning : Most noticeable or important.
• Example : The salient points of the debate were highlighted in the summary.
• Meaning : Having great influence on someone or something.
• Example : She was one of the most influential figures in modern art.
• Meaning : More important than anything else; supreme.
• Example : Safety is of paramount importance in this job.
• Meaning : Worthy of attention or notice; remarkable.
• Example : He is a notable figure in the world of literature.
• Meaning : Of considerable importance, size, or worth.
• Example : The company made a substantial investment in renewable energy.
• Meaning : Important and serious.
• Example : The lawyer presented a weighty argument in court.
• Meaning : Of great importance or significance, especially in having a bearing on future events.
• Example : The signing of the peace treaty was a momentous occasion.
• Meaning : Important; significant.
• Example : The judge’s ruling had a consequential impact on the law.
• Meaning : Of the greatest importance; principal or essential.
• Example : The central theme of the novel is the struggle between good and evil.
• Meaning : Requiring immediate action or attention.
• Example : The patient was in urgent need of medical attention.
• Meaning : Important; famous.
• Example : He is a prominent member of the community.
• Meaning : Absolutely necessary.
• Example : Good leadership is indispensable for a successful organization.
• Meaning : Required to be done, achieved, or present; needed.
• Example : It is necessary to follow the instructions carefully.
• Meaning : Having meaning; significant.
• Example : The award was a meaningful recognition of her work.
• Meaning : Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.
• Example : Freedom of speech is a fundamental right.
• Meaning : Settling an issue; producing a definite result.
• Example : Her leadership was decisive in the outcome of the election.
• Meaning : Most important; principal.
• Example : The chief aim of the project is to improve public health.
• Meaning : Of the greatest importance; fundamental.
• Example : Honesty is a cardinal virtue.
• Meaning : Of the best possible quality; excellent.
• Example : The prime focus of the conference was environmental sustainability.
• Meaning : Most prominent in rank, importance, or position.
• Example : She is the foremost expert on ancient Greek history.
• Meaning : Requiring quick or immediate action or attention.
• Example : The most pressing issue facing the team is the approaching deadline.
• Meaning : Relevant or applicable to a particular matter; apposite.
• Example : The lawyer made several pertinent points during the trial.
• Meaning : Closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
• Example : Her research is highly relevant to our current project.
• Meaning : Relating to the center or most important part.
• Example : Education is the focal point of the government’s policy.
• Meaning : First in order of importance; main.
• Example : The principal reason for the company’s success is its innovative approach.
• Meaning : Of chief importance; principal.
• Example : The primary goal of the initiative is to reduce carbon emissions.
• Meaning : Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
• Example : He is a preeminent scholar in the field of economics.
• Meaning : Of great importance and needing immediate attention.
• Example : The safety of the passengers is a high-priority concern for the airline.
• Meaning : The central or most important part.
• Example : The core values of the company include integrity and excellence.
• Meaning : Higher in rank, status, or quality.
• Example : Their technology is superior to that of their competitors.
• Meaning : Most important or most successful.
• Example : She is a leading figure in the field of biotechnology.
• Meaning : Famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession.
• Example : He is an eminent professor of medicine.
• Meaning : Successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect.
• Example : She had a distinguished career as a diplomat.
• Meaning : Exceptionally good.
• Example : His contributions to the project were outstanding.
• Meaning : Worth paying attention to; significant.
• Example : Her performance in the play was noteworthy.
• Meaning : Widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.
• Example : The disease is more prevalent in tropical regions.

Important Synonyms Infographic

Synonyms are powerful tools that can add richness and precision to your writing. By understanding their nuances and using them strategically, you can take your communication skills to the next level. So, don’t be afraid to explore the thesaurus – your writing will thank you for it!

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importance synonyms

• composition
• acrimonious
• shortsighted

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Synonyms for Important

Meaning of Important

The word “important” is often used to describe something of great significance, value, or consequence. It can refer to people, events, ideas, or objects that hold substantial weight or relevance. To convey the same meaning but with varying emphasis or context, various synonyms can be used. In this article, we will explore general synonyms for “important,” as well as those specifically used in academic writing.

General Synonyms for Important

• Significant
• Substantial

Synonyms for Important in Academic Writing

In academic writing, it is crucial to use precise and formal language. When discussing the importance of ideas, theories, or events, consider the following synonyms, which are more appropriate for academic contexts:

Synonyms, Definitions, and Examples

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Synonyms and antonyms of important in English

• HAVING GREAT EFFECT OR INFLUENCE

Synonyms and examples

Antonyms and examples, important | american thesaurus.

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an expression of surprise or feeling sorry about a mistake or slight accident

Fakes and forgeries (Things that are not what they seem to be)

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Synonyms for Important essay

13 other terms for important essay - words and phrases with similar meaning.

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Synonyms for Important

Sometimes the word “important” isn’t sufficient. Here are a few other words you could use instead.

Synonyms: essential, significant, crucial, substantial

What does “important” mean.

Important means “of great significance or value,” and when referring to a person, “having high rank or status.”

It was important for my daughter that the whole family attend her ballet recital.

What Are Other Words for “Important”?

A few other words you can use instead of important are:

• consequential
• significant
• influential
• substantial

What Are Antonyms for “Important”?

Words with opposite meanings from that of important include:

• unimportant
• insignificant
• meaningless
• unsubstantial
• nonessential
• unnecessary

What Are Other Word Forms of “Important?”

The word important has a few other word forms. Here’s how to use them in a sentence:

1) Importantly : adverb used to state/emphasize a significant matter

Most importantly , though, the young siblings were reunited.

Importantly can also be used to refer to a self-important or pompous manner.

The man talked importantly , as if he were the President of the United States instead of just the president of the apartment complex.

2) Importance: noun used to refer to the quality of being important

It was of upmost importance for the package to be delivered on time.

Using synonyms is a great way of enhancing your writing. They allow you to accurately convey what you’re trying to express. LanguageTool’s synonym function is user-friendly and intuitive. Stronger, more descriptive words are just a double click away!

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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Synonyms of essay

• as in article
• as in attempt
• as in to attempt
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Thesaurus Definition of essay

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dissertation
• composition
• prolegomenon
• undertaking
• trial and error
• experimentation

Thesaurus Definition of essay  (Entry 2 of 2)

• have a go at
• try one's hand (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb essay differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of essay are attempt , endeavor , strive , and try . While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

When might attempt be a better fit than essay ?

While the synonyms attempt and essay are close in meaning, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to essay ?

Although the words endeavor and essay have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

When is strive a more appropriate choice than essay ?

While in some cases nearly identical to essay , strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of essay ?

Try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

Articles Related to essay

To 'Essay' or 'Assay'?

You'll know the difference if you give it the old college essay

Thesaurus Entries Near essay

Cite this entry.

“Essay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essay. Accessed 8 Jul. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay

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Emphasize Synonyms & Antonyms: List of 30+

The ProWritingAid Team

Are you looking to drive home a point?

Do you need to stress how important something is?

Will your writing highlight certain ideas and statements?

Then you're probably looking to emphasize something.

In this article, we'll explore how you can emphasize ideas in your writing, and give you 30+ emphasize synonym & antonym options. Let's get started.

What Are Some Synonyms for Emphasize?

The a–z list of emphasize synonyms, how do i emphasize points in my writing, what are some antonyms of emphasize.

We've already seen some alternatives for emphasize in the examples above. We'll look at their specific definitions, and then list some more alternatives.

What Does it Mean to Drive Something Home?

This doesn't mean putting something in your car and driving it to your house.

Instead, the phrase "drive home" uses the verb to drive in the sense of moving something forward by force. Home here means the final place something will land or arrive—its intended position.

When you drive a point home, you are putting effort into making people understand something clearly by describing it in detail, using lots of examples, or repeating it many times.

"Drive home" is usually used when talking about emphasizing ideas.

Can also mean: Instill; Establish

How Do You Stress the Importance of Something?

This one is similar to drive home, and is also mostly used when referring to ideas.

You've probably heard of stress as a feeling. When you feel stressed, all of your thoughts turn to the thing you are stressed about.

Similarly, when you stress something, you make sure people understand how important it is

Can also mean: Repeat; Underline; Play up; Dwell on

What Does Accentuate Mean?

Accentuate is a visual word, but it can also be used for ideas.

To accentuate something is to indicate its importance by centering attention on it. You place an accent on the thing you want to focus attention on.

While you might use "stress" to describe emphasizing something urgent or worrying, "accentuate" can be more neutral or positive.

You wouldn't "wear a corsage to stress the color of your date's dress," but you could "wear a corsage to accentuate the color of your date's dress."

In this scenario, accentuate can also mean "complement"—to positively emphasize a desirable feature of something.

Normally, something accentuates something else. For example:

She used the data in the table to accentuate her point about decomposition rates.

In this example, to accentuate means to add an extra layer of meaning to something.

Can also mean: Highlight; Complement; Accent

Is Prioritize the Same as Emphasize?

When used to mean "put something first", prioritize is a synonym of emphasize.

The graphic designer prioritized the title on the page.

This means the designer made the title larger, gave it more space—or otherwise emphasized it.

Can also mean: Give precedence to

Why Would You Reiterate Something?

To reiterate means to repeat a point you've made before, maybe in a different way to make sure people have understood it.

I must reiterate that it is of the utmost importance that you don't open the box.

Can also mean: Repeat; Restate; Recapitulate

The examples above describe just some of the ways you might want to emphasize something. The most important thing to remember when looking for a different word to use is to make sure the word you choose matches your meaning.

The words on this list can all be used to mean "to emphasize something", but they can also be used in other ways. Check the specific definition before using a word in your writing.

• Add weight to
• Impress (as in, to make an impression on)
• Labor the point
• Make a point of
• Recapitulate
• Stress/Lay stress on

Looking for a way to only find relevant synonyms? Try ProWritingAid's Thesaurus Report .

The report will highlight every verb, adjective, adverb, and noun in your text and offer contextually relevant alternatives for them.

That means our AI "reads" your writing to work out what you're trying to say, and then only shows synonyms related to your meaning.

Try it out with a free ProWritingAid account.

If you want to emphasize (or drive home) a point in an essay or other piece of writing, you'll need to create a strong argument.

In an essay, you need to show how each point you make backs up that argument. One way to do this is by using transition words to link the points in your essay and show how they build on one another.

Words like "consequently", "therefore", and "as a result" emphasize the cause-and-effect relationship between two points.

Using words like "furthermore", "secondly", and "since" emphasize how two points are linked together.

And if you just want to signpost that a point is particularly important, you can start your paragraph with emphasis transition words like "notably", "chiefly", and "in particular". These words tell your reader to pay special attention to these points in relation to your argument.

But what if you want to do the opposite of emphasizing something? An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning to another word.

These words all mean to de-emphasize something:

How to Use Synonyms of Emphasize

Synonyms can help you avoid repetition and provide more specific descriptions.

But remember: words are different for a reason. All of the synonyms listed above have slightly different meanings and purposes. Before you use a word, make sure to check its exact meaning to make sure it matches what you're trying to say.

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How to Write an Essay About the Importance of Something

Stacy smith.

First of all, know this: apathy is your enemy. Without passion for your subject, you will not be very effective at convincing your audience that the issue at hand is important. So, if you're asked to write an essay about the importance of something, your first tasks are meditation and introspection -- think long and hard about the things that make you angry or excited. If you don't have the freedom to choose your own subject and your assigned topic leaves you cold, try doing an Internet search for some relevant keywords along with the word "injustice." This is sure to get your blood boiling.

Explore this article

• Read, Read, Read
• Variety Is the Spice of Life
• Test the Waters

1 Read, Read, Read

We are fortunate to be living in such an information-rich environment. What was it like for people in the 1970s who wanted to be experts in hydroponic gardening? That took some dedication. These days, obvious ignorance in your writing will be more difficult than ever for people to overlook. Therefore, before you start writing, invest some time in reading what others have said about your subject -- especially people who disagree with you. This opposing point of view will be invaluable to you as you prepare to make your point with enthusiasm.

2 Baby Steps

Staring at a blank page can be intimidating, even for professional writers. Don't worry about the finished product yet, just put something down. Some people find that they can write more freely with pen and paper than on the computer. Try it. Battling your inner censor can be tough, especially when you are writing about something you feel is very important. You are very likely trying to argue for or against its necessity. This is heavy stuff. However, don't let yourself become overwhelmed before you even get rolling. Try this exercise to get your creative juices flowing: pretend you are simply writing to a close friend, someone you trust.

3 Variety Is the Spice of Life

Imagine your intended audience. Who are they? Where do they come from and what are their fears? No matter who they are, they'll appreciate reading your opinions along with some support from other people -- especially if these other people have some established credibility, be it in the form of a Heisman Trophy or a doctorate from Yale. Seek out a variety of sources when you do your research and also when you present these ideas to your readers. Although essays need not incorporate as many outside sources as research papers, support and perspective always add power to your work. Look for inspiration from both highbrow and lowbrow culture, on YouTube, from alternative presses, as well as from media conglomerates and independent blogs. In short, leave no stone unturned.

4 Test the Waters

Once you have a draft prepared and before you solicit feedback from others, read your work aloud. This will really help in tweaking the overall flow of your work. Then consider sharing your essay on a small scale before turning it in to your professor or submitting it to the local newspaper. After all, if you post it to Facebook or your blog, you can always take it down if it isn't well-received. Post it with a request for comments and suggestions. On an even smaller scale, think about emailing it to a handful of friends or family members whose writing you respect. If your subject is truly important and you have been successful in communicating that, people will have a strong reaction, be it positive or negative.

About the Author

Stacy Smith is a writer based in Austin, Texas. She hold a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in theater. She has post-graduate training in curriculum and instruction.

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Are synonyms important in academic English?

This is the first of two chapters about Antonyms and Synonyms . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– Understand the basic concept of synonyms in English

– Discuss the historical and linguistic reasons behind the existence synonyms in the language

– Explore five steps for selecting synonyms with accuracy for academic assignments

Chapter 1: Are synonyms important in academic English?

Chapter 2: How do lexical antonyms differ from synonyms?

Before you begin reading...

• video and audio texts
• knowledge checks and quizzes
• skills practices, tasks and assignments

It’s very important that correct words are selected when communicating if one wishes to be understood. This is particularly true for non-native speakers of English who haven’t had years of language immersion in which to build mental dictionaries of successful vocabulary and definitions. While such non-natives may understand that accurate word selection is based on a comprehensive knowledge of word morning , they may not realise that ‘meaning’ in grammatical terms also implies aspects such as the formality of a word (its register), the words it combines with (its collocation ), its multiple meanings (its ploysemes ) and its contexts-of-use. 

This short reader on antonyms and synonyms focuses specifically on the accurate selection of words which have either similar or opposite meanings, which is an important topic for EAP students. This is because a wrong selection here when writing an essay or presentation can significantly affect the coherence  of your writing – and therefore also your grade. If you wish to improve this aspect of your English ability, study the following two chapters about synonyms (Chapter 1) and antonyms (Chapter 2) carefully and then unlock, download and complete our Chapter 1 to 2 worksheets.

What is a synonym?

A synonym is a word or phrase that’s very similar in meaning to another word or phrase. Synonym pairs may be composed of any word type   so long as the corresponding expression is also of the same type, such as in the two adjective antonyms (words with opposite meanings) ‘big’ and ‘small’ below:

What these two examples show us is that synonyms do not usually resemble the spelling of the original word, such as how ‘small’, ‘little’ and ‘miniature’ are all formed quite differently, increasing the challenge of learning them.

Thankfully, one simple test of successful synonymity is to replace the words in question with each other within the same expression to see how significantly they change the meaning. For example, ‘little’ and ‘large’ could be considered more effective synonyms for ‘small’ and ‘big’ than the words ‘microscopic’ and ‘gigantic’. This is because the latter mean ‘very small’ and ‘very big’ respectively, showing us that some words may be more synonymous than others:

Why does English have so many synonyms?

Students may be surprised to learn of how many synonyms there are for each word or phrase in English. They might wonder to themselves, Why would a language have so many expressions which mean the same thing? The truth is that no two synonyms are perfectly synonymous; their meanings will, in some way, be different. They might require different grammar , collocate with different words, be used in different contexts or have a different level of formality, adding to their complexity.

The reason for this complexity may be both linguistic and historical. Being a mixture of Norman-French, Germanic Saxon and numerous other languages, words in English have either continued to coexist (such as the Norman ‘people’ and ‘archer’ and the Saxon ‘folk’ and ‘bowman’) or have entered the language more recently as loanwords. If such words continue to be in existence today, then we can assume that it’s because they offer speakers a slightly unique meaning – one worth keeping.

Why are synonyms important in academic writing?

Synonym selection is an important aspect of forming engaging academic discourse, particularly in the written word. An essay that uses a wide variety of vocabulary will, for example, generally be more dynamic and convincing to its readers. Likewise, because the paraphrasing of source- based information is a necessary aspect of academic research , students will have to be skilled at finding different words that express the same thing. And if those two reasons aren’t enough, a good knowledge of synonymy can also improve the coherence and cohesion of a piece of writing through the use of lexical sets . By employing a variety of words and phrases to repeat the same concepts throughout an essay, the reader can be more clearly reminded and convinced of that paper’s key arguments. 

Why are synonyms so challenging to choose?

Because synonyms often have slightly different meanings , grammar , formality, or context requirements, it can be very easy for students to make fairly damaging mistakes when selecting them. Take for example the word ‘overweight’ below: Which of its many synonyms would you choose to use in an academic essay?

Would you know that ‘obese’, ‘large’ and ‘rotund’ are the only acceptable academic synonyms for ‘overweight’ from this list, that ‘corpulent’ is too obscure for common use, that ‘podgy’ and ‘tubby’ are too informal, or that ‘flabby’ and ‘porky’ are too rude? Unfortunately, because there are no exact synonyms in English, because words can have many meanings ( polysemy ) or preferences ( collocation ), and because they can be archaic, informal or simply rude, accurate synonym selection is more often than not a challenging process for non-native speakers of English. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps which can be followed to help with this aspect of grammar and academic vocabulary .

Which five steps help with synonym selection?

Step 1: Use Your Own Knowledge

Firstly, if you’ve already had successful experiences in using particular synonyms, perhaps try trusting your own judgement until corrected otherwise. This method is what native speakers do without realising and what foreign speakers should perhaps learn to do too. After all, you won’t always have an online dictionary  on hand to check meaning and may have to instead rely on your own knowledge and intuition.

Step 2: Research Possible Synonyms

Secondly, using online resources to investigate possible synonyms for the words you wish to paraphrase  can also be a good idea. A simple right click on Microsoft Word can, for example, offer a number of useful alternatives. However, for a more comprehensive investigation, you might wish to consider using sites such as:

www.powerthesaurus.org

www.synonyms.com

www.synonym-finder.com

www.thefreedictionary.com

www.thesaurus.com

Step 3: Consider Formality

Though it is undoubtedly challenging to know how formal a word is or isn’t (and therefore how appropriate it is likely to be in academic settings), one quick rule to remember is that words of French/Latin origin tend to be more formal than those with a Germanic etymology. Take phrasal verbs , for example. An expression such as ‘put out the fire’ would be considered much more formal if the Latin ‘extinguish’ were used in place of the Germanic ‘put out’.

Step 4: Determine Frequency and Collocation

Next, you might wish to determine how frequent a word is in modern English to rule out archaisms, slang and other colloquial language. While you’re doing this, it might also be a good idea to compare the words which tend to appear before and after the word you’re investigating (its collocates ). Both can be done at the same time using free-access  corpora   such as the British National Corpus or the Corpus of Contemporary American English . While it takes effort to learn how to investigate synonyms in this way, doing so will give you invaluable insight into word meaning .

Step 5: Trial and Error

Finally, there’s good old trial and error. Hand in a piece of written work full of awkward synonyms and your academic tutor will soon let you know. Similarly, use ancient or rude synonyms when speaking to a native speaker and watch their face for a reaction… You’ll soon know which words worked and which didn’t!

Downloadables

Once you’ve completed both chapters in this short reader about Antonyms and Synonyms , you might then wish to download our Chapter Worksheets to check your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .

Chapter 1 explores the topic: Are synonyms important in academic English? Our Chapter 1 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button. 

Chapter 2 explores the topic: How do lexical antonyms differ from synonyms? Our Chapter 2 Worksheet (containing guidance, activities and answer keys) can be accessed here at the click of a button. 

To save yourself 1 Mark , click on the button below to gain unlimited access to all of our Antonyms and Synonyms Chapter Worksheets. This All-in-1 Pack includes every chapter, activity and answer key related to this topic in one handy and professional PDF.

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Understanding Ethos in Literature: the Core of Credibility and Character

This essay is about the concept of ethos in literature and its significance in shaping our understanding of characters narrators and authors. Ethos derived from the Greek word for “character” refers to the credibility or ethical appeal of the speaker or writer. In literature ethos is crucial for building trust and authority allowing readers to connect more deeply with the text. The essay discusses how ethos is portrayed through characters’ actions dialogues and perceptions as well as through narrative and authorial voices. It highlights examples from works like “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Catcher in the Rye” to illustrate how ethos influences readers’ engagement and interpretation of stories. The essay also explores the interplay between ethos and other rhetorical appeals such as pathos and logos emphasizing the importance of ethos in creating compelling and persuasive narratives. Ultimately it underscores the integral role of ethos in literary analysis and storytelling.

How it works

Ethos is one of the most important ideas in literary analysis and linguistic study. It shapes how we understand and analyze characters storytellers and writers. Ethos comes from the Greek word for “character” and it means the moral draw or trustworthiness of the person speaking or writing. It is an important part of writing for building trust and authority which helps readers connect with the text more deeply. Ethos isn’t just about how moral a character is or how ethical the voice of the story is; it’s also about how trustworthiness and character affect how powerful a story is as a whole.

There are different ways that ethos shows up in writing. For characters it shows in what they do how they talk and how other characters see them. When a character constantly shows that they are honest brave or wise it builds a strong ethical draw that makes the reader more likely to relate to and trust them. On the other hand people who lie or are afraid may have a bad ethos which can have just as much of an effect on the story. For example In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” Atticus Finch’s ethos is built around his unshakable dedication to justice and moral courage which makes the reader trust and admire him.

Another important part is storytelling ethos especially in first-person stories or when the author’s style is clear. How we understand a story is greatly impacted by how trustworthy the person telling it is. Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” who is not a dependable narrator uses ethos in a complicated way. People are always questioning his trustworthiness which makes them want to read more to find the truth behind his biased point of view. This multifaceted approach to ethos gives the story more meaning and encourages readers to think critically about what they are reading.

In addition the author’s own philosophy can seep into their work whether they mean to or not. How people feel about an author’s work can be affected by their background experiences and image. Some examples are George Orwell’s bleak books like “1984” and “Animal Farm.” Orwell is known for his criticism of totalitarian governments and his clear direct writing style. People who read these works often know what Orwell thought about politics which helps them understand his work better.

This idea of ethos in writing isn’t just found in fiction. What the author stands for is very important in non-fiction especially diaries and memoirs. It changes how readers think about how true and trustworthy the events being told are. “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai is a great example of how her personal faith as a fighter and supporter of girls’ education makes her story more powerful. Her trustworthiness and moral power make people want to listen to her and get more involved with what she has to say.

It is important to note that ethos works with other literary pleas in writing like pathos and logos. These parts of a story often work together with ethos to make it more interesting and convincing. A character or storyteller with strong ethos can successfully make the audience feel things (pathos) and make reasonable points (logos) that stick with them more. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” for example is a deeply convincing piece because of how his reputation as a recognized leader and minister makes the emotional and logical points he makes stronger.

Finally to understand ethos in literature you need to be aware of how character reliability story trustworthiness and authorial integrity all work together. It’s about understanding how these parts work together to affect how we read and how we understand what we read. Ethos isn’t just a way to persuade; it’s an important part of writing that makes the story more interesting and connects us more deeply to the characters and their paths.

Finally ethos is an important idea in writing because it shapes the trustworthiness and character of both the storyteller and the author. In turn this changes how we understand and interact with the text giving our reading experience more meaning and depth. As we try to understand and make sense of the stories that move us ethos is still an important part of literary analysis. It can be found in the actions of a fictional character the voice of a storyteller or the image of an author.

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Understanding Ethos in Literature: The Core of Credibility and Character. (2024, Jul 06). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-ethos-in-literature-the-core-of-credibility-and-character/

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Understanding Ethos in Literature: The Core of Credibility and Character . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-ethos-in-literature-the-core-of-credibility-and-character/ [Accessed: 8 Jul. 2024]

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How to Write a Paper in APA Format | For Students

When I was a student, I was told to submit my essays in APA format. At the time, I had no idea what that even meant or how to do it. If this sounds familiar to you, don’t worry—I’ve been there, too. In this guide, I’ll show you the easiest way to understand APA format and a simple hack to help you comfortably write your essays and then format them in APA style.

When is APA format used?

APA format is commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences, such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, education, and economics, as well as in fields like business and nursing. This standardized format is adopted by professionals, researchers, and students to structure and present research papers, essays, and other academic documents.

It ensures consistency and clarity in communication within these disciplines by providing specific guidelines for nearly all aspects of manuscript formatting, from font choice to margins and punctuation. By adhering to paper APA format 7th edition style, writers in these fields can effectively share their findings and ideas in a clear and organized manner.

General Guidelines/ Rules of APA Formatting

Understanding the guidelines is key when learning how to write a paper in APA format for students. However, there's one important point that is often missed by many: the APA 7th edition now has different guidelines for students and professionals. So, if you notice a few extra details that might be missing in the guidelines below, it is because we have skipped the APA 7th edition guidelines for professionals to avoid any confusion. Let's review the guidelines:

General Formatting:

Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides.

Font: Use a readable font such as Times New Roman (12 pt.).

Line Spacing: Double-space throughout the document, including the title page, abstract, references, and any other sections.

Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches (use the tab key or the paragraph formatting function).

Alignment: Left-align all text except for headings, which follow specific formats.

Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the top right corner of every page, starting on the title page (which is considered page 1).

Title Page: Follow guidelines for the placement of the title, author information, affiliation (your school), course information, and instructor's name.

Abstract: Include a brief summary of your paper on a separate page after the title page.

Body Text: Write in clear and concise language, avoiding jargon. Use headings to organize your content.

In-text Citations: Cite your sources within the text using the author’s name and publication year in parentheses. There are specific formats for different types of sources.

Reference List: Start a new page for your references, listed alphabetically by the first author's last name. Follow specific formatting guidelines for different types of sources (books, articles, websites, etc.).

Here's what a title page of a reference paper template looks like in APA format:

How to Set up APA Format Paper [Step-by-Step]

After understanding the guidelines, the next step is to apply them effectively to format your paper in APA 7th edition style. To achieve this, we need an efficient writing tool that provides all the necessary formatting tools. Since we're just starting our journey to format essays in APA style, the tool should be easy to use. For these reasons, I'll be using a professional writing tool— WPS Office .

WPS Office not only provides all the necessary tools but also has a major benefit—it's completely free to use. I recommend downloading WPS Office on your system to ensure you can follow the steps smoothly. So, let's begin. I have an example paper that I will format in APA style using WPS Office.

1.Page Margins

Before you begin formatting your essay, let's set the page margins according to APA 7th edition guidelines, which require 1-inch margins on all sides.

Step 1: To set the page margins in WPS Writer, simply go to the Page Layout tab.

Step 2: In the Page Layout ribbon, locate the Margin fields on the left end of the ribbon.

Step 3: Here, set all margins—top, bottom, left, and right—to 1 inch.

Once you've adjusted the margins, we can proceed with formatting the rest of the document.

2.Font Settings and Line Spacing

Next, let's adjust the font and line spacing according to APA style requirements.

Step 1: Go to the Home tab in WPS Writer and change the font to “Times New Roman” in the “Fonts” field.

Step 2: To change the font size, enter "12" in the "Font size" field.

Step 3: For adjusting line spacing, simply click on the "Line spacing" icon in the Home ribbon and select "2.0" to apply double spacing in your essay.

Once we've completed setting the general formatting of our entire essay according to APA style, we now need to prepare the header.

Step 1: To set the header, double-click on the header area to enter the header in WPS Writer.

The header in APA style for students includes only the page number on the top right.

Step 2: To insert the page number, click on the "Page Number" button in the Header/Footer ribbon.

Step 3: From the Page Number drop-down menu, select the "Header right" option to insert the page number on the top right.

Step 4: Next, we need to set the header height to "0.5 in" in the "Header height" field.

 4.Title Page

Sure! Let's start formatting each page of your essay, beginning with the title page. The title page should include the title of your paper, your name (as the author), the professor's name, course details, university name, and the due date. Each of these headings should start on a new line with 3-4 blank lines at the top of the page. This formatting ensures that your essay's title page follows APA style guidelines accurately.

Step 1: Press the "Enter" key on the keyboard to leave 3-4 blank lines at the top of the page.

Step 2: Type the title of your essay and center align it by clicking on the "Center" icon in the Home ribbon.

Step 3: Make the title bold by selecting the title text and clicking on the "Bold" icon in the Home ribbon.

Step 4: Press the "Enter" key twice to create a blank line between the title and the essay details. Then, enter the essay details in the following order, each on a separate line:

Your name (Author)

Department, University

Course Name, Course code

Professor's name

Step 5: After entering the essay details as described, ensure that each detail is centered on the page by selecting all the text with your mouse. Then, click on the "Center" icon in the Home ribbon to center-align the selected text.

Step 1: To insert a new blank page after the title page, place the cursor at the end of the due date on the title page and go to the Insert tab.

Step 2: In the Insert ribbon, click on "Breaks" and then select "Page Break" from the drop-down menu. This will create a new blank page where we will enter our abstract.

Step 3: Enter the heading "Abstract" in bold font style and center align it.

Step 4: Type the body of the abstract with no indentation. Simply start typing the abstract text.

After completing the abstract, insert another page break to start the next section of your essay.

6.Headings and Subheadings

To ensure your paper adheres to APA style guidelines for headings and paragraph indentation, here's how you can format them:

Step 1: On a new blank page, enter the Level 1 heading and ensure it is centered and in bold.

Step 2: For the body of the headings, indent the first line of each new paragraph by “0.5 in” by pressing the “Tab” key on your keyboard

Level 1 Heading: Centered and bold. It is used for main sections, like "Methods" or "Results".

Level 2 Heading: Left-aligned and bold. It is used to divide the main sections into subsections.

Level 3 Heading: Left-aligned, bold, and italicized. It further divides subsections into smaller parts.

Level 4 Heading: Indented, bold, and ends with a period. Text immediately follows this period, and it continues with lowercase text.

Level 5 Heading: Indented, bold, and in italics. Similar to Level 4, it also continues with lowercase text..

7.Table of contents

Essays can be lengthy, so including a table of contents can help make navigation easier. Let's take a look at how we can add a table of contents in WPS Writer.

Step 1: The Table of Contents is placed right after the title page, so the first step is to create a blank space after the title page using a Page Break.

Step 2: Now, on the blank page, go to the References tab and click on the Table of Contents button.

Step 3: From the Table of Contents drop-down menu, select any of the default templates available. I prefer using the 3rd template as it allows coverage of 3 levels of headings.

Step 4: Once the Table of Contents has been added, ensure that its heading is set to "Table of Contents", and it is formatted in bold and centered alignment.

Step 5: Additionally, ensure that the font settings of the Table of Contents are set to Times New Roman and 12-point font size.

8.Reference page

Before completing our essay, it's important to insert references that were helpful during the research process. For this, the end of your essay will include a separate References page.

Step 1: On a blank page at the end of your essay, enter the heading "References". Center align the heading and make it bold.

Step 2: List all the works cited in your essay. You can use the free Scribbr citation generator to generate APA 7th edition citations, which makes the process easier and ensures accuracy.

Step 3: Ensure the references are formatted with hanging indents using the Ruler in WPS Writer. To access the ruler, go to the View tab and check the "Ruler" checkbox in the ribbon.

Step 4: Drag the arrow on the ruler to half an inch to set the hanging indent .

Step 5: Then, drag the rectangle (below the ruler) back to 0 to reset the left indent for the subsequent lines of each reference.

And here is our APA 7th edition formatted essay from scratch. As you may have noticed, the whole process can be lengthy without an outline, but formatting your essay step by step makes the process clearer and easier to complete. I've used a few other writing tools for formatting, but I recommend WPS Writer because of its ease of navigation—all formatting tools are readily available in the tab, with no need to navigate through extra menus or open additional guides to learn additional steps. Try using WPS Writer for your essay assignments and experience the difference.

Bonus Tips: How to Convert Word to PDF without losing Format

WPS Office not only provides the necessary tools for students to efficiently format their essays according to APA 7th edition, but it also offers tools to easily convert these papers to PDF format within the WPS Writer application. Therefore, because submitting your work promptly is the next step after writing, ensure that your submission doesn't cost you any marks due to formatting issues after putting in so much effort.

To convert your essay documents to PDF using WPS PDF without quality loss, simply follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your document in WPS Writer.

Step 2: Click on the Menu button at the top left corner of the screen.

Step 3: Select "Export to PDF" from the menu that appears.

Step 4: Adjust any settings, such as the output path, in the Export to PDF window.

Step 5: After configuring the settings, click on "Export to PDF" to save your essay document as a PDF.

FAQs about writing a paper in APA format

1. how should i format tables and figures in apa style.

To correctly format a table in APA style, follow these guidelines:

Boldly label the table number above the table.

Provide a brief, italicized title in the title case just below the table number.

Avoid using vertical lines in the table design.

Use horizontal lines sparingly, only where necessary for clarity.

Ensure column and row headings are clearly labeled and concise.

Maintain consistent number formatting, such as decimal places.

Include any necessary notes below the table to explain details or sources.

To correctly format a figure in APA style, follow these guidelines:

Place the figure number in bold above the figure.

Provide a brief, italicized title in the title case beneath the figure number.

Include clear labels and legends within the image if needed.

Add any pertinent notes below the figure.

2. How to cite a Journal article in APA Style?

An APA Style citation for a journal article includes the author's name(s), the year of publication (in round brackets), the title of the article, the name of the journal in italics, the volume (in italics) and issue number, the page range of the article, and a DOI (if available).

APA format:

Author's last name, First name initial. (Year of publication). Title of article. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), Page range. DOI or URL

Johnson, M. (2023). Explore with us. Journal of random discoveries, 5(2), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1234/jes.2023.5.2.123

3. How to cite a website in APA style?

APA website citations include the author's name, publication date, the title of the page or article in italics, the website name, and the URL. If no author is known, begin with the title of the article. If updates to the content are possible, include a retrieval date.

Author's Last Name, First initial. (Year, Month Date of publication). Title of the page. Name of the Website. URL

Johnson, M. (2024, March 12). Explore with us. Random Discoveries. https://www.randomdiscoveries.com/explore-with-us

Master APA Format Easily with WPS Office

I personally find APA format to be the most complex of all formats, but doing it on WPS Office sure makes it easy. The fact that it’s so user-friendly, with every feature readily available, is a huge advantage. The best part is that WPS Office is completely free. As a student, finding a good office suite that is cost-effective can be a challenge, and I’ve been there. Download WPS Office and spare yourself the hassle of hunting for an office suite— WPS Office is the answer to all your problems.

• 1. 10 PowerPoint presentation in APA Format example templates
• 2. How to Create a Table of Contents in Word for Your Paper? [For Students]
• 3. How to Write a Research Paper [Steps & Examples]
• 4. 10 Top APA Format PowerPoint Presentation Example
• 5. APA Format in PowerPoint Presentation Example Templates
• 6. How to Find and Replace in Word for Your Paper? [For Students]

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verb as in stress, give priority to

Strongest matches

Strong matches

Weak matches

• labor the point
• make a point
• make emphatic
• make much of
• put accent on

Example Sentences

Many Americans move to places that de-emphasize the particularities of their local community.

The pictures of Gilkes emphasize, quite rightly and inevitably, his classic good looks.

Sharpton would later emphasize to The Daily Beast that he neither possesses nor desires such power.

In 2014, it appears, the key to winning in a swing state is to avoid talking about issues and emphasize pig castration.

And as if to emphasize their accounts, in early afternoon a U.S. airstrike hit a building in the middle of Kobani.

I have wanted him to do it absolutely on his own, and I could not emphasize this better than by coming right away to Mudros.

The centenary of Petrarch celebrated at Avignon in 1874 tended to emphasize the importance and the glory of the new literature.

Wherefore Bud had deliberately done what he could do to stimulate and emphasize both the surprise and the gratification.

It is only necessary to take all these things for granted, and emphasize certain other things which are peculiar to the sea.

In an ordinary light it is only a few broad planes of value and color without an accent object to emphasize or centre on.

Related Words

Words related to emphasize are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word emphasize . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

verb as in place emphasis, importance

• draw attention to

verb as in focus attention on

• bring attention to
• call attention to
• give prominence to

verb as in maintain

Viewing 5 / 51 related words

On this page you'll find 96 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to emphasize, such as: accentuate, affirm, assert, highlight, indicate, and maintain.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Today’s ‘quordle’ help, hints and answers for sunday, july 7.

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POLAND - 2023/10/24: In this photo illustration a Quordle logo seen displayed on a smartphone. ... [+] (Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Looking for Saturday’s Quordle hints and answers? You can find them here:

Hey, folks! Hints and the answers for today’s Quordle words are just ahead.

How To Play Quordle

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If you get a letter in the right place for any of the four words, it will light up in green. If a word contains a letter from one of your guesses but it’s in the wrong place, it will appear in yellow. You could always check out the practice games before taking on the daily puzzle.

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Russia Is Running Low On Tanks. So Why Are A Thousand First-Generation T-72s Still Sitting In Storage?

‘house of the dragon’ season 2, episode 4 recap and review: the red dragon and the gold, kevin costner’s ‘horizon’ tumbles out of box office top 5 in 2nd week, what are today’s quordle hints.

• Word 1 (top left) hint — type of engine that propels old trains. Also, a popular storefront for PC games
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Delving deep —

The telltale words that could identify generative ai text, new paper counts "excess words" that started appearing more often in the post-llm era..

Kyle Orland - Jul 1, 2024 11:30 am UTC

Further Reading

To measure these vocabulary changes, the researchers analyzed 14 million paper abstracts published on PubMed between 2010 and 2024, tracking the relative frequency of each word as it appeared across each year. They then compared the expected frequency of those words (based on the pre-2023 trendline) to the actual frequency of those words in abstracts from 2023 and 2024, when LLMs were in widespread use.

The results found a number of words that were extremely uncommon in these scientific abstracts before 2023 that suddenly surged in popularity after LLMs were introduced. The word "delves," for instance, shows up in 25 times as many 2024 papers as the pre-LLM trend would expect; words like "showcasing" and "underscores" increased in usage by nine times as well. Other previously common words became notably more common in post-LLM abstracts: the frequency of "potential" increased 4.1 percentage points; "findings" by 2.7 percentage points; and "crucial" by 2.6 percentage points, for instance.

These kinds of changes in word use could happen independently of LLM usage, of course—the natural evolution of language means words sometimes go in and out of style. However, the researchers found that, in the pre-LLM era, such massive and sudden year-over-year increases were only seen for words related to major world health events: "ebola" in 2015; "zika" in 2017; and words like "coronavirus," "lockdown" and "pandemic" in the 2020 to 2022 period.

In the post-LLM period, though, the researchers found hundreds of words with sudden, pronounced increases in scientific usage that had no common link to world events. In fact, while the excess words during the COVID pandemic were overwhelmingly nouns, the researchers found that the words with a post-LLM frequency bump were overwhelmingly "style words" like verbs, adjectives, and adverbs (a small sampling: "across, additionally, comprehensive, crucial, enhancing, exhibited, insights, notably, particularly, within").

This isn't a completely new finding—the increased prevalence of "delve" in scientific papers has been widely noted in the recent past , for instance. But previous studies generally relied on comparisons with "ground truth" human writing samples or lists of pre-defined LLM markers obtained from outside the study. Here, the pre-2023 set of abstracts acts as its own effective control group to show how vocabulary choice has changed overall in the post-LLM era.

An intricate interplay

By highlighting hundreds of so-called "marker words" that became significantly more common in the post-LLM era, the telltale signs of LLM use can sometimes be easy to pick out. Take this example abstract line called out by the researchers, with the marker words highlighted: "A comprehensive grasp of the intricate interplay between [...] and [...] is pivotal for effective therapeutic strategies."

After doing some statistical measures of marker word appearance across individual papers, the researchers estimate that at least 10 percent of the post-2022 papers in the PubMed corpus were written with at least some LLM assistance. The number could be even higher, the researchers say, because their set could be missing LLM-assisted abstracts that don't include any of the marker words they identified.

Those measured percentages can vary a lot across different subsets of papers, too. The researchers found that papers authored in countries like China, South Korea, and Taiwan showed LLM marker words 15 percent of the time, suggesting "LLMs might... help non-natives with editing English texts, which could justify their extensive use." On the other hand, the researchers offer that native English speakers "may [just] be better at noticing and actively removing unnatural style words from LLM outputs," thus hiding their LLM usage from this kind of analysis.

Detecting LLM use is important, the researchers note, because "LLMs are infamous for making up references, providing inaccurate summaries, and making false claims that sound authoritative and convincing." But as knowledge of LLMs' telltale marker words starts to spread, human editors may get better at taking those words out of generated text before it's shared with the world.

Who knows, maybe future large language models will do this kind of frequency analysis themselves, lowering the weight of marker words to better mask their outputs as human-like. Before long, we may need to call in some Blade Runners to pick out the generative AI text hiding in our midst.

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NeurIPS Creative AI Track: Ambiguity

Following last year’s incredible success, we are thrilled to announce the NeurIPS 2024 Creative AI track. We invite research papers and artworks that showcase innovative approaches of artificial intelligence and machine learning in art, design, and creativity. 

Focused on the theme of Ambiguity, this year’s track seeks to highlight the multifaceted and complex challenges brought forth by application of AI to both promote and challenge human creativity. We welcome submissions that: question the use of private and public data; consider new forms of authorship and ownership; challenge notions of ‘real’ and ‘non-real’, as well as human and machine agency; and provide a path forward for redefining and nurturing human creativity in this new age of generative computing. 

We particularly encourage works that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries to propose new forms of creativity and human experience. Submissions must present original work that has not been published or is not currently being reviewed elsewhere.

Important Dates:

• August 2: Submission Deadline
• September 26: Decision 
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Call for Papers and Artworks

Papers (posters).

We invite submissions for research papers that propose original ideas or novel uses of AI and ML for creativity. The topics of research papers are not restricted to the theme of ambiguity. Please note that this track will not be part of the NeurIPS conference proceedings. If you wish to publish in the NeurIPS proceedings please submit your paper directly to the main track.

To submit: We invite authors to submit their papers. We expect papers to be 2-6 pages without including references . The formatting instructions and templates will become available soon. The submission portal will open sometime in July.

We invite the submission of creative work that showcases innovative use of AI and ML. We highly encourage the authors to focus on the theme of Ambiguity.  We invite submissions in all areas of creativity including visual art, music, performing art, film, design, architecture, and more in the format of video recording .  

NeurIPS is a prestigious AI/ML conference that tens of thousands researchers from academia and industry attend every year. Selected works at the Creative AI track will be presented on large display screens at the conference and the authors will have the opportunity to interact with the NeurIPS research community to germinate more collaborative ideas.

To submit:  We invite authors to submit their original work. An artwork submission requires the following:

• Description of the work and the roles of AI and ML 
• Description on how the theme of Ambiguity is addressed
• Biography of all authors including relevant prior works 
• Thumbnail image of the work (<100MB)
• 3-min video preview of the work (<100MB) 

Single-blind review policy

The names of the authors should be included in the submission. 

Conference policy

If a work is accepted at least one author must purchase a  Conference & Tutorials  registration and attend in person . For pricing visit the pricing page . For registration  information visit the registration page . The location of the conference is Vancouver and the authors are responsible for their travel arrangements and expenses. The conference does not provide travel funding. 

For updates, please check this website regularly.

To stay up-to-date with all future announcements, please join our mailing list [email protected] .

For other inquiries, please contact [email protected] .

Jean Oh roBot Intelligence Group Carnegie Melon University

Marcelo Coelho Design Intelligence Lab MIT