understreket

Understreket is the Norwegian term for text that has been underlined, or for the state of being underlined. It is also the past participle of understreke, the verb meaning to underline or to emphasize. In linguistic and typographic contexts, understreket describes text that has been marked with a line beneath it for emphasis.

The term derives from under- meaning beneath and strek(e) meaning line or stroke. The concept of underlining predates modern digital typography and arose as a practical method to indicate emphasis in handwritten and printed text when italics or bold were less available or not used.

Historically, underlining was a standard method for emphasis in manuscripts and early typewritten documents. In contemporary typography, bold or italics are often preferred for emphasis, while underlining remains common in handwriting, in certain instructional styles, and in some exam or proofreading contexts. On the web, underlines are typically associated with hyperlinks, which has led to a tendency to reserve underlining for links rather than for emphasis to avoid confusion.

In Norwegian usage, understreket can describe words or phrases that are underlined for emphasis. Style guides may specify when to use underlining and how it should be combined with other emphasis markers. See also: underline, emphasis, typography, HTML, CSS.