emphasises

Emphasises is the third-person singular present tense of the verb emphasise in British English. It means to give special importance or prominence to something; to stress or highlight a point, idea, or feature within speech or writing.

In American English, the corresponding form is emphasizes, and the noun form is emphasis. The British spelling uses -ise, while the American uses -ize. Both spellings are correct within their respective varieties, and many style guides require consistency within a document.

Etymology: emphasise derives from emphasis, which traces through Latin and French into Greek, with the Greek emphasein meaning “to show or exhibit.” The sense has long been to place focus on a particular element of a message or argument.

Usage: emphasises is common in formal prose, journalism, academic writing, and policy documents. It signals what the author regards as especially important and can guide readers toward central claims or conclusions. Synonyms include stress, highlight, underscore, and accentuate.

Examples: The report emphasises the need for reform. The study emphasises the link between diet and health. In practice, writers choose among emphasise/emphasises and emphasize/emphasizes to fit regional conventions and tone.