Giving Examples

A key skill in essay writing is giving examples. The most common phrase is ‘for example / for instance’. Here are some different ways to give examples. Using these phrases can help to improve your scores for vocabulary and sentence structure. 

For example, if …

Using ‘if’ in an example allows you to fully explain your idea.

One problem with internet bank accounts is that they can be hacked. For instance, if your account is hacked, it could be emptied of funds before you could stop it.

This is illustrated by

This is another useful pattern. It is used at the beginning of a sentence.

Disease spreads rapidly when communities do not have access to clean water. This is illustrated by the high rates of cholera and malaria in parts of Africa.

Such as

Use such as to provide a brief example or list of examples. This phrase cannot be used at the start of a sentence. 

There are many downsides to living in a city, such as traffic congestion, air pollution and a busier lifestyle. (A list)

There are many negative features of city life, such as traffic congestion, which may cause someone to move to the countryside. (A single example)

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