anzumerken

Anzumerken is the infinitive form of the German verb anmerken, meaning to remark on something or to note. It is commonly used to introduce a remark, qualification, or reservation, especially in formal or academic writing. A typical impersonal construction is Es ist anzumerken, dass …, which translates to “It should be noted that …”.

The verb anmerken is separable in finite clauses. In ordinary statements, the prefix separates: Ich merke an, dass die Methode robust ist; Er merkte an, dass weitere Untersuchungen nötig seien. The past participle is angemerkt, so a complete sentence would be Ich habe angemerkt, dass …, or Er hat angemerkt, dass … This contrasts with the infinitive form anzumerken, which is used in non-finite clauses or fixed phrases.

Usage and nuance: anzumerken tends to convey a formal or cautious note, often to point out a caveat, a limitation, or a clarification. It is more neutral and measured than colloquial phrases like ich möchte darauf hinweisen or es ist anzuschauen, and it serves to frame observations without asserting them forcefully. In many contexts, especially in reports, policy texts, or scholarly writing, anzumerken functions as a linguistic tool to introduce an important, but not absolute, qualifier.

Etymology: anzumerken combines the prefix an- with merken (to notice, to mark). The meaning has evolved toward “to remark on” or “to note” something that deserves attention, while retaining a sense of formality and caution.