sottolineata

Sottolineata is the feminine singular form of the past participle of the Italian verb sottolineare, meaning to underline or to emphasize. As an adjective, it describes text or elements that have been underlined.

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from sotto- “under” and linea or lineare, referring to drawing a line beneath something. The corresponding noun for the act is sottolineatura, and the parallel forms for gender and number are sottolineato (masc. sing.), sottolineata (fem. sing.), sottolineati (masc. plur.), and sottolineate (fem. plur.).

Usage and grammar: Sottolineata agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number, as in una frase sottolineata or una parola sottolineata. It is commonly used in editing, typography, and descriptive writing to indicate that a portion of text has been emphasized by underlining. When the past participle is used with the auxiliary avere and the preceding direct object, ordinary agreement rules apply; as a standalone adjective, it functions with standard gender/number concord.

In typography and digital contexts: The term is often encountered in style guides and document formatting to denote underlined text. In web and digital typography, underlining is frequently used for hyperlinks, while other forms of emphasis (italics, bold) may be preferred for semantic clarity; sottolineata can appear in labeling or notes describing formatting choices.

See also: sottolineatura, sottolineare, sottolineato, italic, bold.