Menggarisbahi

Menggarisbahi is generally regarded as a nonstandard or misspelled variant of the Indonesian verb menggarisbawahi, which means to underline a word or to emphasize a point. The standard form is menggarisbawahi, formed from garis bawah (underline) with the affix me- and the suffix -i to create a transitive verb.

Meaning and usage

Menggarisbawahi can refer to a literal action of drawing an underlining line beneath text, such as in handwriting or printed material, as well as a figurative emphasis in writing or speech. In formal writing, editing, or note-taking, it is common to use menggarisbawahi to indicate that certain words or phrases deserve particular attention.

Etymology and morphology

The term derives from garis (line) and bawah (under). The standard verb menggarisbawahi attaches the me- prefix and the -i suffix to the root garisbawah (underline), yielding a word that means to underline or to emphasize. The form menggarisbahi lacks the conventional morphology and is rarely if ever treated as standard Indonesian.

Usage notes

In practice, most Indonesian writers prefer menggarisbawahi over menggarisbahi. When discussing emphasis in non-physical terms (such as highlighting ideas), menggarisbawahi is used as a figurative construction equivalent to “emphasize” or “highlight.” The noun form garis bawah refers to the underline itself.

Related terms

- garis bawah: underline (noun)

- menggarisbawahi: to underline or emphasize (standard verb)

- menekankan: to emphasize in a broader sense

Summary

Menggarisbahi is not the recommended spelling in standard Indonesian; use menggarisbawahi for both literal underlining and figurative emphasis.