How to use "to illustrate this"

What Does "to illustrate this" Mean?

• Grammatical function: It serves as a transitional phrase indicating that an example or instance will follow to clarify or support a previous statement. It signals an illustrative relationship, where the subsequent content is intended to make the preceding idea more understandable.
• Typical sentence position: Initial.
• Register: Neutral to formal.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: It is typically followed by a comma and then the example itself. The example can be a sentence, a phrase, or even a visual aid. It is usually preceded by a general statement or concept that needs further explanation.
• Punctuation rules: A comma is almost always placed after "to illustrate this".
• Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence. Moving it to other positions would sound unnatural. It cannot be negated directly; you would need to rephrase the entire sentence.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Placing it mid-sentence or using it to introduce something other than an example. For example, using it to introduce a contrasting point would be incorrect.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from to illustrate this on Ludwig.guru.

"To illustrate this, let's return to boats." — The New York Times

"To illustrate this, the company added three new capabilities today." — TechCrunch

"To illustrate this point, Skyrms builds several examples." — SEP

"To illustrate this problem, I made some calculations." — Forbes

"To illustrate this phenomenon, here's a four-digit number: 5203." — BBC

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/to+illustrate+this

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
for example	Most common and versatile alternative; suitable for both formal and informal settings.
for instance	Similar to "for example" but slightly more formal.
to give an example	More explicit and can be useful when emphasis is needed.
as an illustration	More formal and often used in academic or technical writing.
to demonstrate this	Implies a more convincing or persuasive example.
specifically	Introduces a precise example or detail.
consider this	Invites the reader to think about a specific instance.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect placement: Placing "to illustrate this" in the middle of a sentence disrupts the flow and sounds unnatural.
• Missing comma: Forgetting the comma after "to illustrate this" makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
• Unclear example: Failing to provide a clear and relevant example after the phrase defeats its purpose.
• Learners sometimes use it incorrectly by placing it mid-sentence or failing to follow it with a clear example.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
to illustrate this	Introduces an example	Neutral to formal	Sentence-initial

FAQs

Where can "to illustrate this" appear in a sentence?

"To illustrate this" almost always appears at the beginning of a sentence. Placing it in the middle or at the end sounds unnatural and grammatically incorrect. It functions as a sentence adverbial, connecting the current sentence to the previous one by providing an example.

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How does "to illustrate this" differ from "for example"?

Both "to illustrate this" and "for example" introduce examples, but "to illustrate this" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the connection to a previously stated point. "For example" is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts. Essentially, "to illustrate this" stresses the illustrative nature of the example, while "for example" simply introduces one.

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What's the most common mistake with "to illustrate this" and how can I avoid it?

A common mistake is using "to illustrate this" without providing a clear and relevant example immediately afterwards. Also, some learners incorrectly place it mid-sentence, which is grammatically incorrect. To avoid this, always start a new sentence with it and ensure the sentence that follows offers a concrete illustration of the preceding point.