a prime illustration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a prime illustration' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something provides an excellent example or representation of a certain concept. For example: The Mona Lisa is a prime illustration of Leonardo Da Vinci's artistic genius.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He's a prime illustration of what plagues the Republican Party and holds it back.

The New York Times

A prime illustration of the near merger of painting and photography is Gregory Crewdson's large untitled photograph of suburban life gone awry.

The New York Times

By not making that connection, the movement is losing touch with one of its greatest triumphs and forsaking a prime illustration of why its cause is so just and so crucial.

The New York Times

Linear Temporal Logic is a prime illustration of this problem: if p and q define single event patterns, a temporal expression like G (p→X q) validates whether an event that satisfies p is always immediately followed by an event that satisfies q.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Weintraub told HuffPost he's always been fascinated by the overlap between astronomy and religion, with the Star of Bethlehem a prime illustration.

HuffPost

They would then verify that Mr. Takatoshi and his colleagues provide a prime illustration to the "expert problem": they serve as experts while offering the scientific reliability of astrologers.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

T3SS is a prime example of a vestigial system and an important illustration of the stepwise evolution of the flagella machinery [67], [68].

Plosone

A prime example is technology.

The New York Times

Elections are a prime example.

The New York Times

Land is a prime example.

The Economist

Tennis is a prime example.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a prime illustration" to introduce an example that effectively and clearly demonstrates a concept or idea you are explaining. It signals to the reader that the upcoming example is particularly relevant and insightful.

Common error

Avoid using "a prime illustration" in casual or informal writing. Its somewhat formal tone might sound out of place in everyday conversation or relaxed prose. Choose simpler alternatives like "a good example" or "this shows".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prime illustration" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an appositive. It introduces a specific instance that exemplifies a broader concept. As Ludwig AI states, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prime illustration" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to introduce a strong and clear example. As determined by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various writing contexts, including news, science, and academia, though its formal tone may not suit casual conversation. While not extremely common, it signals to the reader that the following example is particularly relevant and insightful. Alternatives such as "a key example" or "an excellent example" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key example

Replaces "prime" with "key", suggesting importance but with less intensity.

a leading illustration

Substitutes "prime" with "leading", emphasizing prominence and direction.

a notable illustration

Replaces "prime" with "notable", highlighting the illustration's worthiness of attention.

an excellent example

Replaces "illustration" with "example" and "prime" with "excellent", focusing on the quality of the instance.

a classic illustration

Replaces "prime" with "classic", indicating the illustration is a well-known and typical example.

a perfect illustration

Replaces "prime" with "perfect", emphasizing the flawless nature of the example.

a telling illustration

Replaces "prime" with "telling", implying that the illustration is revealing or informative.

a striking illustration

Substitutes "prime" with "striking", focusing on the vivid and attention-grabbing nature of the example.

a vivid illustration

Emphasizes the clarity and detail of the example, making it easily understandable.

a significant illustration

Highlights the importance and impact of the example.

FAQs

How can I use "a prime illustration" in a sentence?

Use "a prime illustration" to introduce an example that strongly supports your point. For instance, "The success of the project is "a prime illustration" of effective teamwork".

What are some alternatives to "a prime illustration"?

You can use alternatives like "a key example", "a leading illustration", or "an excellent example" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a prime illustration" the same as "a prime example"?

While similar, "a prime illustration" emphasizes the illustrative or demonstrative quality of the example, whereas "a prime example" simply highlights its excellence as an instance of something. They are often interchangeable, but "illustration" can suggest a more visual or explanatory role.

When is it best to use "a prime illustration"?

It's best to use "a prime illustration" when you want to highlight an example that not only exemplifies a concept but also vividly clarifies or explains it, especially in academic, formal, or explanatory contexts.