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The physical act of drawing a line creates a visual anchor, signaling to the reader that specific information is of primary importance. It is a tool of highlighting used in editing, studying, and formal documentation to ensure key points are not overlooked. When used figuratively, the word shifts from a visual marker to a rhetorical one. It describes the act of reinforcing an argument or bringing a critical fact to the forefront of a discussion, often to justify a specific action or decision.