Introduction
The phrase “for example” is one of the most commonly used expressions in English. It helps clarify ideas, introduce details, and make explanations easier to understand. Students, professionals, teachers, and writers rely on it daily to support arguments or give illustrations.
However, using “for example” repeatedly can make writing sound dull, repetitive, or overly basic—especially in essays, reports, emails, or presentations. That’s why learning alternatives is important. The right substitute can improve clarity, sound more professional, or match a conversational tone better.
In this guide, you’ll learn 27+ natural, human-sounding alternatives to “for example,” with clear meanings, usage tips, and practical examples.
When Should You Use These Alternatives?
Use alternatives to “for example” when:
- You’re writing essays, reports, or academic papers
- You want to sound more professional or polished
- You’re explaining ideas in presentations or meetings
- You want variety and better flow in writing
- You’re teaching, tutoring, or writing for ESL learners
⚠️ Avoid using alternatives when:
- The sentence requires very simple English (basic learners)
- Overly formal phrases don’t match a casual conversation
27+ Other Ways to Say “For Example”
1. For instance
Meaning: Introduces a specific illustration.
Usage: Formal and informal writing.
Tip: The closest alternative to “for example.”
Examples:
- Some fruits, for instance, apples and bananas, are rich in fiber.
- You could try a hobby, for instance, painting.
- Many cities, for instance, Tokyo, are very crowded.
- Certain skills, for instance, communication, matter at work.
2. Such as
Meaning: Introduces examples from a category.
Usage: Lists and explanations.
Tip: Don’t use before a complete sentence.
Examples:
- I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling.
- Skills such as leadership are valuable.
- He studies languages such as Spanish.
- Fruits such as oranges are healthy.
3. Like
Meaning: Gives an informal example.
Usage: Casual speech and writing.
Tip: Avoid in formal academic writing.
Examples:
- Choose a color like blue.
- I enjoy music like jazz.
- Cities like London are expensive.
- Tools like Excel help a lot.
4. Including
Meaning: Adds examples within a group.
Usage: Professional and neutral tone.
Tip: Often used after nouns.
Examples:
- The package includes items such as chargers.
- We offer services including training.
- Topics including marketing were discussed.
- She packed essentials including snacks.
5. Namely
Meaning: Specifies exact examples.
Usage: Formal writing.
Tip: Usually followed by a comma.
Examples:
- Two factors, namely time and cost, matter most.
- The issue lies in one area, namely communication.
- She chose one option, namely remote work.
- There is one solution, namely patience.
6. To illustrate
Meaning: Explains by giving a clear example.
Usage: Academic or professional writing.
Tip: Often used at sentence beginnings.
Examples:
- To illustrate, let’s look at last year’s data.
- To illustrate this point, consider inflation.
- To illustrate, imagine a small business.
- To illustrate the idea, think of traffic jams.
7. As an example
Meaning: Introduces a specific case.
Usage: Neutral and versatile.
Tip: Slightly more formal than “for example.”
Examples:
- As an example, look at this chart.
- Take Apple as an example.
- This issue appears, as an example, in schools.
- As an example, consider remote work.
8. In particular
Meaning: Highlights one important example.
Usage: Formal emphasis.
Tip: Use when narrowing focus.
Examples:
- Many skills, in particular communication, matter.
- I like fruits, in particular mangoes.
- This rule applies in many cases, in particular online.
- She excels in many areas, in particular design.
9. Especially
Meaning: Emphasizes a key example.
Usage: Spoken and written English.
Tip: Adds emotional emphasis.
Examples:
- I enjoy sports, especially football.
- This issue affects students, especially beginners.
- Prices rise, especially in cities.
- She works well under pressure, especially deadlines.
10. As a case in point
Meaning: Introduces a strong supporting example.
Usage: Formal writing and speeches.
Tip: Use when proving a claim.
Examples:
- Climate change is serious; flooding is a case in point.
- Online scams are rising—this email is a case in point.
- Poor planning causes delays; last year is a case in point.
- Health matters; stress is a case in point.
11. To give an example
Meaning: Direct explanation aid.
Usage: Teaching and presentations.
Tip: Clear and learner-friendly.
Examples:
- To give an example, think of traffic lights.
- To give an example, consider online shopping.
- To give an example, imagine teamwork.
- To give an example, look at this graph.
12. By way of example
Meaning: Formal way to introduce an illustration.
Usage: Academic or professional writing.
Tip: Best in formal tone.
Examples:
- By way of example, consider healthcare systems.
- By way of example, this policy failed before.
- By way of example, take Germany.
13. Take …
Meaning: Directs attention to one example.
Usage: Spoken explanations.
Tip: Sounds confident and engaging.
Examples:
- Take smartphones—they changed communication.
- Take online learning as a model.
- Take this chart—it shows growth.
- Take teamwork—it improves results.
14. Consider
Meaning: Asks the reader to think about an example.
Usage: Persuasive or instructional writing.
Tip: Polite and professional.
Examples:
- Consider the impact of inflation.
- Consider this scenario carefully.
- Consider a beginner learning English.
- Consider how habits form.
15. A good example is
Meaning: Highlights a strong illustration.
Usage: Teaching and explanation.
Tip: Adds emphasis.
Examples:
- A good example is online banking.
- A good example is social media marketing.
- A good example is teamwork.
16. One case is
Meaning: Focuses on a specific situation.
Usage: Formal writing.
Tip: Useful in reports.
Examples:
- One case is customer complaints.
- One case is delayed shipping.
- One case is data security.
- One case is workplace stress.
17. Illustrated by
Meaning: Shows proof through examples.
Usage: Academic tone.
Tip: Often used mid-sentence.
Examples:
- This trend is illustrated by recent data.
- The issue is illustrated by complaints.
- Growth is illustrated by sales figures.
- The risk is illustrated by past failures.
18. In other words (with example)
Meaning: Clarifies an idea using examples.
Usage: Explanation and simplification.
Tip: Combine with examples carefully.
Examples:
- In other words, think of traffic rules.
- In other words, like budgeting.
- In other words, such as teamwork.
- In other words, for instance remote work.
19. To put it another way
Meaning: Rephrases with an example.
Usage: Clarification.
Tip: Use when simplifying ideas.
Examples:
- To put it another way, think of savings.
- To put it another way, imagine teamwork.
- To put it another way, consider deadlines.
- To put it another way, think of habits.
20. Say
Meaning: Introduces a hypothetical example.
Usage: Informal explanations.
Tip: Common in spoken English.
Examples:
- Say you miss the deadline.
- Say you start a business.
- Say you forget your password.
- Say you move abroad.
21. Suppose
Meaning: Imaginary example for explanation.
Usage: Teaching and reasoning.
Tip: Useful for hypothetical cases.
Examples:
- Suppose you lose internet access.
- Suppose prices increase suddenly.
- Suppose you change careers.
- Suppose demand rises.
22. To demonstrate
Meaning: Shows proof with an example.
Usage: Formal or academic writing.
Tip: Strong and confident.
Examples:
- To demonstrate, look at this data.
- To demonstrate, consider this experiment.
- To demonstrate the issue, note delays.
- To demonstrate success, review results.
23. In practice
Meaning: Shows how something works in real life.
Usage: Professional and academic.
Tip: Great for applied explanations.
Examples:
- In practice, deadlines often shift.
- In practice, budgets change.
- In practice, teamwork matters most.
- In practice, results vary.
24. As shown by
Meaning: Supports a claim with evidence.
Usage: Formal and data-based writing.
Tip: Pair with facts.
Examples:
- As shown by recent surveys.
- As shown by the results.
- As shown by feedback.
- As shown by statistics.
25. To clarify
Meaning: Explains something more clearly.
Usage: Teaching and professional writing.
Tip: Polite and helpful tone.
Examples:
- To clarify, consider this example.
- To clarify, think of budgeting.
- To clarify, look at this chart.
- To clarify, imagine teamwork.
26. In simple terms
Meaning: Explains with easy examples.
Usage: ESL and beginner-friendly content.
Tip: Keep examples simple.
Examples:
- In simple terms, think of saving money.
- In simple terms, like learning a language.
- In simple terms, imagine teamwork.
- In simple terms, think of habits.
27. One way is
Meaning: Introduces one possible example.
Usage: Instructional writing.
Tip: Suggestive and flexible.
Examples:
- One way is using apps.
- One way is practicing daily.
- One way is teamwork.
- One way is planning ahead.
Bonus Section: Short Alternatives for Writing & Speech
- “For clarity,”
- “To give you an idea,”
- “Think of it this way,”
- “A simple example is,”
- “In real terms,”
Final Writing Tips
- Match the phrase to your tone (formal vs casual)
- Avoid repeating the same example marker too often
- Use simpler phrases for ESL learners
- Choose formal alternatives for academic writing
- Keep examples short and relevant
- Read your sentence aloud to test flow
- Clarity matters more than complexity
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