Emphasise the Key Information | English But Better

The key idea

Choose one emphasis structure that makes your main point clear without repeating words.

What is it for?

Learn to make the main point stand out in reviews and reports without repeating the same words.

What you need to know

Explain why one detail matters most to the reader.
Use What + clause + be to highlight an experience or result.
Use It + be + focus + that/who to highlight a person or detail.
Use The reason why ... is that ... to explain a cause.
Use emphasis sparingly, usually once in each paragraph.

1. Make the main point stand out

A review can include many details. The reader still needs to see the most important one. Emphasis helps you show which detail matters most. It also helps you avoid repeating the same words.

Choose the main point before you choose the sentence pattern.
Use emphasis when a detail deserves special attention.
Keep the other sentences focused on facts and reasons.

The café was crowded, but the service was excellent.

This sentence gives two facts without special emphasis.

What impressed me most was the excellent service.

This sentence highlights the service as the main point.

2. Use What + clause + be

This pattern puts an experience or result first. The words after be give the main information. Use it when you want to explain what mattered most.

Start with What + subject + verb.
Add was or is, depending on the time.
Finish with the important detail.
Use this pattern to highlight one main point.

What I enjoyed most was the homemade bread.

The sentence highlights the bread, not the whole meal.

What made the visit memorable was the helpful staff.

The sentence explains which detail made the visit memorable.

3. Use It + be + focus + that/who

This pattern highlights one person, thing, or event. Use that for things and events. Use who for people.

Start with It was or It is.
Put the important person or detail next.
Use that or who to add the rest.
Choose was for past events and is for present facts.

It was the manager who solved the problem.

The sentence highlights the manager's role.

It was the slow delivery that caused the delay.

The sentence identifies the main cause.

4. Explain the main reason

Use The reason why ... is that ... to explain a cause clearly. Use The main problem is that ... to highlight a difficulty. These patterns help readers follow your point.

Name the reason or problem first.
Use is that to introduce the explanation.
Give a clear fact after that.
Do not repeat the same reason in the next sentence.

The reason why I returned the jacket is that the zip was broken.

The pattern connects the action with its reason.

The main problem is that the room has no windows.

The pattern highlights the main difficulty.

5. Emphasise carefully

You can also place a short phrase at the beginning. Above all highlights the most important point. Only then shows that one action happened before another. Use these phrases only when they fit your meaning.

Use Above all to introduce your strongest point.
Use Only then when the order of events matters.
After Only then, use the correct verb order.
Avoid emphasis in every sentence.
One clear emphasis structure per paragraph is often enough.

Above all, the flat needs a safer front door.

Above all signals the most important need.

Only then did I notice the missing receipt.

Only then highlights when the discovery happened.

How to do it, step by step

Decide what the reader should remember most.
Choose a structure that highlights that detail.
Add facts or reasons to support the main point.
Check that the emphasis sounds natural.
Remove repeated ideas and unnecessary emphasis.

Formulas and key language

Use it for	Example	Another example
What + subject + verb + was/is + focus	What I liked most was the quiet garden.	What surprised us most was the final price.
What + subject + verb + was/is + noun phrase	What made the meal special was the fresh pasta.	What helped me most was the clear map.
It was + thing + that + clause	It was the broken lift that caused the delay.	It was the final scene that changed my opinion.
It was + person + who + clause	It was our neighbour who found the keys.	It was the assistant who explained the refund.
The reason why + clause + is that + clause	The reason why I left early is that I felt exhausted.	The reason why we changed rooms is that the heater failed.
The main problem is that + clause	The main problem is that the bus arrives late.	The main problem is that the cupboard is too small.
Above all, + main point	Above all, the building needs better lighting.	Above all, the instructions must be clear.
Only then + auxiliary + subject + verb	Only then did I understand the final instruction.	Only then did we notice the extra charge.

UK / US: British and American English use these emphasis patterns in similar ways. Spelling differences may still appear elsewhere in your writing.

Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B2 upgrades page.

Model text

A Review of Green Street Café

Introduction

Green Street Café offers fresh meals in a quiet part of town. The prices are reasonable, and the tables are clean. However, the service can be slow during busy periods.

The opening gives the reader the setting and the main weakness.

Main experience

What I enjoyed most was the homemade pasta, which tasted fresh and included seasonal vegetables. The staff were friendly, but our meals arrived almost forty minutes after we ordered.

The What structure highlights the strongest part of the visit.

Main reason

The reason why I would return is that the food offers excellent value. The manager also apologised for the delay and offered us free tea.

The reason pattern explains the writer's decision.

Final judgement

It was the quality of the food that changed my opinion of the café. Above all, the owners should improve the service during lunch. With faster service, this café could become a reliable choice for local workers.

The It structure highlights the key detail. Above all introduces the most important recommendation.

Common mistakes

✗ What I enjoyed most the food was.

✓ What I enjoyed most was the food.

Put was before the detail you want to highlight.

✗ It was the manager which solved the problem.

✓ It was the manager who solved the problem.

Use who when the focus is a person.

✗ It was the broken lift who caused the delay.

✓ It was the broken lift that caused the delay.

Use that when the focus is a thing.

✗ The reason why I left is because I was tired.

✓ The reason why I left is that I was tired.

Use is that to complete this reason pattern.

✗ Only then I noticed the mistake.

✓ Only then did I notice the mistake.

After Only then, use the auxiliary before the subject.

✗ What I liked most were the service.

✓ What I liked most was the service.

Use was when the highlighted detail is singular.

Plan it, then check it

Plan

Write down the main point you want the reader to remember.
Choose one emphasis pattern that fits your meaning.
Add two or three facts that support your point.
End with a clear judgement or recommendation.

Check

Can the reader identify your main point quickly?
Does your emphasis pattern have the correct word order?
Have you used who for people and that for things?
Have you explained your main reason clearly?
Have you avoided using emphasis in every sentence?

Practice

EXERCISE:

Choose the best emphasis sentence

Choose the sentence that highlights the main point most clearly.

1.You want to highlight the fresh bread.

The What structure highlights the fresh bread directly.

2.You want to highlight the person who found your bag.

Who correctly introduces the person being highlighted.

3.You want to explain why you changed your room.

The reason pattern introduces a clear cause.

4.You want to identify the cause of the delay.

That correctly introduces the thing causing the delay.

5.You want to highlight the most important repair.

Above all signals the most important point.

6.You want to show when you finally understood.

Only then requires did before the subject in this past sentence.

Now write

Your task

Rewrite the five-sentence paragraph below as one clear review paragraph. Make its main point stand out with one emphasis structure. Keep the useful facts, but remove repeated ideas. Draft to rewrite: The local swimming pool is clean. The changing rooms are clean too. The staff helped me find a locker. The pool was crowded, but the water was warm. I would return because the staff were helpful and the facilities were clean.

Target: One rewritten paragraph.

Word bank

memorablereliablefacilitieshelpful staffcrowdedwarm waterchanging roomsabove allwhat impressed methe main reasonexcellent conditionreturn visitas a resultwell organised

Sentence starters

What impressed me most was ...
It was the staff who ...
The main reason why I would return is that ...
Above all, the pool needs ...
The main problem is that ...
What made the visit memorable was ...

Use made-up details. Do not include private information about yourself or other people.

Write in your notebook or in a document, then use the checklist below.

Check your writing

Have I made the main point clear?
Have I chosen an emphasis structure that fits my meaning?
Have I used who for people and that for things?
Have I explained the main reason with clear details?
Have I avoided repeating the same words and ideas?

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