Merely as an example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Merely as an example" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to clarify that what follows is just a sample or illustration, not the only option or the main point. Example: "You could use various methods to solve this problem, merely as an example, consider using a flowchart."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Merely as an example, were these 987 men the only employees of that depart-ment?

Yale University

The Lord Chancellorship, for example, is, in one form or another, almost 1,000 years old.Mr Blair's arrogant behaviour is worrying not merely as an example of poor political etiquette.

The Economist

Take, merely as an example, the case of sporting goods of certain types.

Forbes

Furthermore, Lauren Wainwright may indeed have exactly the deeper conflict of interest that Florence only hinted at and suggested by using her tweet merely as an example.

Forbes

Merkel faced an immediate backlash against her comments, and her spokesperson quickly backtracked on her behalf, saying on Twitter that she had used the climate protests merely as an example of how campaigns can be mobilized on the internet.

Forbes

However, some did view Hilton's Mecca store merely as an example of capitalism, according to Al Arabyia News.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Photographs are merely taken as an example of a causal relationship between the mental representation of an object and the object itself.

The New York Times

Although four value sets from specific countries are used to develop a method for adjusting mean utilities to increase their transferability from one country to another, the countries merely serve as an example.

ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research

This passage has received little or no commentary from scholars, possibly because they have silently read it merely as an uncomplicated example of the ease with which Margery's thoughts could turn to Christ's bodily existence on earth and thus as a typical example of affective piety, that is, a conventional emotional response to the thought of Christ's bodily suffering on the cross.

Johns Hopkins University

This network happens to be a subnet for flavonoid metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana extracted from the Aracyc [ 19] database, but serves here merely as a realistic example of a small metabolic network.

BMC Systems Biology

Some have dismissed her Instagram use as merely an example of a young person knowing how to use a platform.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "Merely as an example", follow it with concrete details or a brief explanation to effectively illustrate your point.

Common error

Avoid starting consecutive sentences with "Merely as an example" or similar phrases. This can make your writing repetitive and weaken the impact of each individual illustration. Instead, vary your sentence structure and use different transitional phrases to introduce examples.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merely as an example" functions as an introductory phrase or discourse marker. It serves to signal to the reader or listener that what follows is a specific instance used to clarify a more general point or concept. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

16.666666666666668%

Science

16.666666666666668%

Less common in

Wiki

16.666666666666668%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "merely as an example" is a phrase used to introduce an illustration that is not exhaustive but serves to clarify a point. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, although more common in news, academia, and science. While the phrase is often found in authoritative sources, it's worth considering related phrases such as "for instance" or "just as an example" to provide variety in writing. Keep in mind the best practices and potential pitfalls to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Just as an example

Replaces "merely" with "just", offering a slightly more informal tone while retaining the same meaning.

As a simple example

Substitutes "merely" with "simple", emphasizing the uncomplicated nature of the example.

For instance

Provides a more concise alternative, directly introducing an illustrative case.

By way of illustration

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the illustrative purpose of the example.

As an illustration only

Highlights that the example is not exhaustive, but simply serves as an illustration.

To illustrate briefly

Adds an element of brevity, suggesting a concise example.

Purely for example

Emphasizes that the purpose is solely for providing an example.

Only as a demonstration

Focuses on the demonstrative function of the example.

For illustrative purposes only

A formal alternative that clearly indicates the example is not comprehensive.

Just to demonstrate

Highlights the intent to demonstrate through the use of an example.

FAQs

How can I use "Merely as an example" in a sentence?

The phrase "Merely as an example" is used to introduce an illustration or case that supports a broader point. For instance, "You could consider various approaches; "merely as an example", look at the flowchart method".

What are some alternatives to "Merely as an example"?

Alternatives include "for instance", "just as an example", or "as an illustration", which offer similar ways to introduce an example.

Is it better to use "Merely as an example" or "For example"?

Both are correct, but "Merely as an example" emphasizes that the provided case is just one of many possibilities, while "for example" is a more general way to introduce an illustration.

Can "Merely as an example" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "Merely as an example" is suitable for formal writing, though alternatives like "by way of illustration" might lend a slightly more elevated tone.