I would like to highlight

The grammar here is quite straightforward, which is a relief because presentations are stressful enough already! The structure is usually I would like to highlight + [Noun Phrase]. For example, I would like to highlight the growth in Q3. You can also add an adverb to change the flavor: I would like to briefly highlight or I would like to especially highlight. Just be careful not to highlight everything. If your whole page is yellow highlighter, nothing is actually highlighted, and your boss might wonder if you've had too much coffee. Keep it focused and use it for the "gems" of your information.

This phrase lives in the land of "Formal" and "Neutral." You’ll hear it constantly in corporate boardrooms, academic lectures, and professional LinkedIn videos. It is the gold standard for public speaking. Is it too formal for a text to your roommate? Probably. Sending a message like, "I would like to highlight that we are out of milk," might make your roommate think you’re about to fire them from the apartment. In casual settings, we usually stick to "Look at this" or "Check this out." However, if you are writing a slightly more serious email to a landlord or a customer service rep, it works beautifully to show you mean business without being rude.

Imagine you are a travel vlogger posting a new video. In your caption, you write: I would like to highlight the hidden café we found in Kyoto. It tells your followers that among all the shrines and temples, this specific spot is the winner. Or think about a job interview on Zoom. You might say, I would like to highlight my experience with Python during my last internship. It directs the interviewer's attention to your strongest skill. Even in a simple WhatsApp group for a project, you could say, I would like to highlight the deadline change for Friday. It ensures the most critical information doesn't get buried under a pile of "thumbs up" emojis.

Use this phrase whenever you need to create a hierarchy of information. Use it during a Canva presentation when you move to a slide with a big, impressive graph. Use it in the "Executive Summary" of a report to ensure the busy manager sees the main takeaway. It’s also fantastic during feedback sessions. Instead of saying "You did this wrong," you can say, I would like to highlight an area where we can improve. It sounds much more like coaching and less like a trip to the principal's office. It’s the perfect transition tool when you want to move from general talk to specific facts.

Avoid this phrase when the information is obvious or trivial. If you say, I would like to highlight that the sky is blue, people will look at you like you’ve lost your mind. Also, avoid it in high-emotion, very personal situations. Saying to a partner, "I would like to highlight that you forgot our anniversary," sounds like you're reading a legal deposition. It’s also best to avoid overusing it in a single speech. If you "highlight" ten different things in five minutes, your audience will experience "highlight fatigue" and probably start checking their Instagram feeds. Use it sparingly for maximum impact.

A very common slip-up is adding the word "on" after highlight. You don't highlight *on* something; you just highlight the thing itself.

• ✗ I would like to highlight on the main problem.
• ✓ I would like to highlight the main problem.

Another mistake is using the wrong verb form after "would like to."

• ✗ I would like to highlighting the results.
• ✓ I would like to highlight the results.

Finally, don't confuse it with "highland." Unless you are talking about the mountains in Scotland, keep that 't' at the end!

• ✗ I would like to highland this point. (Unless you're wearing a kilt, this is a no-go.)

If you find yourself saying this phrase too often, you can swap it for some equally classy alternatives. I would like to emphasize is a bit stronger and more forceful. I would like to point out is slightly more casual and works well in quick meetings. In academic writing, you might see I would like to underscore, which sounds very intellectual. For a more modern, tech-savvy vibe, you might say, I'd like to put a spotlight on... If you are in a rush, just shortening the start to I'd like to highlight makes it feel a bit more conversational and less like a prepared speech.

Is it okay to say "I want to highlight"? Yes, but "would like to" is softer and more professional. It’s the difference between wearing a t-shirt and a polo shirt. Can I use it in a tweet? Absolutely! It’s a great way to start a thread about a specific topic. Is it used in British English too? Yes, it is perfectly standard in both American and British English. Does it have to be a positive thing? Not at all. You can highlight a problem, a risk, or a mistake just as easily as a success. It just means "look at this."