subraya

Subraya is a Spanish verb meaning to underline or to emphasize text by drawing a line beneath it. It is used both for literal underlining in writing and for figurative emphasis in speech or writing. The form subraya can function as the third-person singular present tense (él/ella subraya) or as the affirmative imperative for the tú form (subraya).

Etymology and form: subrayar comes from sub- meaning under and raya meaning line or stroke. The related noun subrayado denotes the underline itself, and subrayado/a describes something that is underlined. Other related forms include subrayo (yo subrayo), subrayas (tú subrayas), and subrayen (ellos/ustedes subrayen).

Usage and context: In education and editing, underlining is used to indicate important passages, key ideas, or corrections. In pedagogy, students may underline facts to aid memorization. In editing, underlining can mark emphasis or sections to be reviewed. In digital contexts, underlining is commonly associated with hyperlinks; modern UI practice often discourages using underlining for emphasis alone, in favor of bold or italics and using underlines primarily for links, to aid accessibility.

Examples:

- Subraya este párrafo para recordar los puntos clave.

- El editor subraya las oraciones que necesitan revisión.

Related terms: resaltar (to highlight), subrayado (underline, the mark), subrayar (the act/time of underlining). While subraya usually denotes literal underlining or emphasis, resaltar often implies highlighting more broadly, including using color or other cues.