Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Highlight in or highlight by?

Highlight is usually used without a fixed preposition. In and by often belong to the surrounding phrase instead.

Quick answer

How is highlight normally used?

Highlight is commonly transitive: highlight something. Highlight in usually refers to where something appears, while highlight by introduces the method used.

The report highlights several risks.
The problem was highlighted in the final chapter.
Key terms were highlighted by using bold text.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
highlight + object

Emphasising something important

The most common pattern is direct object without a preposition.

The article highlights recent changes in the law.
The speaker highlighted the need for action.
2
highlight in + document or context

Showing where something is emphasised

In refers to the place, text, or situation where the highlighting happens.

The issue was highlighted in yesterday's meeting.
Several errors are highlighted in red.
3
highlight by + method

Showing how something is emphasised

By introduces the method or means used to highlight something.

The designer highlighted the title by increasing the font size.
Important points were highlighted by coloured markers.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
highlight
The study highlights safety concerns.
directly emphasise or draw attention to something
highlight in
The trend is highlighted in the introduction.
shows where the emphasis appears
highlight by
The editor highlighted the quote by using italics.
shows the method used
highlight on
The report highlights the problem.
On is usually unnecessary after highlight

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Highlight usually takes a direct object.

✕ The article highlighted on climate change. ✓ The article highlighted climate change.

Confusing location with method

Use in for the place or text and by for the method.

✕ The point was highlighted by the report. ✓ The point was highlighted in the report.

Using by without an action

By should introduce a method or means.

✓ The graph highlights differences by using colour.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The report ___ several financial risks.
2. The mistake was highlighted ___ the final review.
3. She highlighted the key sentence ___ using bold type.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is highlight in a fixed phrasal verb?

No. In usually belongs to the following noun phrase, such as in the report or in the article.

Can I say highlighted by experts?

Yes. By can introduce the agent in a passive sentence: The issue was highlighted by experts.

Do I need a preposition after highlight?

Usually no. Highlight commonly takes a direct object.

hack-into-by-at-to, in "haggle with" or "haggle for"? "hail from" or "hail as"? hamper by, due, in, for or throughout? "handle by" or "handle in"? hang in, from, over, around or onto? "happen to" or "happen in"? harass by, in, at, for or with? "harm by" or "harm to"? harvest from, in, for, at or by? hasten to, by, from, after or into? hate on, for, by, about or in?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account