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What sets off a word phrase or clause for emphasis?

There are several ways to set off a word, phrase, or clause for emphasis in writing:

Punctuation:

* Commas: Used to separate words, phrases, or clauses that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. For example: "The dog, a fluffy golden retriever, chased its tail."

* Dashes: Used to separate words, phrases, or clauses that are more strongly emphasized or are more important to the meaning of the sentence. For example: "I finally found the perfect gift—a vintage record player."

* Parentheses: Used to enclose words, phrases, or clauses that are considered non-essential or provide additional information. For example: "The meeting (which was scheduled for 2 pm) was cancelled."

* Colons: Used to introduce a list, explanation, or quote. For example: "There are three things I need to do today: go to the bank, pick up groceries, and finish that report."

* Semicolons: Used to separate two independent clauses that are closely related. For example: "The rain was pouring down; the streets were flooded."

Word Order:

* Inversion: Changing the normal word order of a sentence can emphasize a particular word or phrase. For example: "Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset."

* Placement: Putting a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning or end of a sentence can also add emphasis. For example: "With a loud bang, the door slammed shut."

Other Techniques:

* Italics: Used to emphasize individual words or phrases. For example: "The *real* reason for the delay was the traffic."

* Boldface: Used to emphasize entire phrases or sentences. For example: "This is important."

* Capitalization: Capitalizing a word or phrase can make it stand out. For example: "I will *Never* forget that day."

Choosing the right technique depends on the context and the level of emphasis you want to achieve.

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