Cool MateCall your attention to vs Highlight
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Call your attention to
Top 3,000 (common)
Highlight
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Most common: Highlight
| Call your attention to | Highlight | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kɔːl jɔːr əˈtɛnʃən tuː//🇺🇸 //kɔl jɔr əˈtɛnʃən tu// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhaɪlaɪt/","/ˈhaɪlaɪts/","/ˈhaɪlaɪtɪd/","/ˈhaɪlaɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhaɪlaɪt/","/ˈhaɪlaɪts/","/ˈhaɪlaɪtɪd/","/ˈhaɪlaɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make you notice something important. | To make something stand out or more important. |
| Example | I want to call your attention to the changes in the schedule. | The teacher asked us to highlight the important points in the text. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | call attention to detail, call attention to issues, call attention to risks, call attention to problems, call attention to opportunities | clearly, dramatically, graphically, serve to |
| Antonyms | - | diminish, ignore, downplay |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'your' - It should be 'call your attention', not just 'call attention'., Using 'to' when it should be 'on' - The correct phrase is 'call attention to', not 'call attention on'. | Confused with 'understate' — often used in opposite contexts., Misused as a noun — some learners may incorrectly use it as 'the highlight of my life'., Saying 'highlighting of' instead of 'highlighting'. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase in both spoken and written English to point out important information. It is appropriate in formal settings, like presentations or reports. | Used in contexts like presentations and studies. Generally avoids overly casual settings. In formal writing, use sparingly to maintain tone. |
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Frequently asked questions: Call your attention to vs Highlight
What's the difference between Call your attention to and Highlight?
Call your attention to: To make you notice something important. Highlight: To make something stand out or more important.
Which is more common: Call your attention to and Highlight?
Highlight is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Call your attention to: I want to call your attention to the changes in the schedule. Highlight: The teacher asked us to highlight the important points in the text.
Can I use Call your attention to and Highlight interchangeably?
Not always. Call your attention to and Highlight are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.