a telling case is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a telling case is" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing an example or situation that illustrates a particular point or argument effectively. Example: "In the debate about climate change, a telling case is the rapid melting of polar ice caps, which highlights the urgency of the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A telling case is to be found in Milan.

The New York Times

A telling case is the current trend to transfer economical transactions to exchanges for cryptocurrencies and smart contracts.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Lebanon is a telling case," said Osama Safa, director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies here.

The New York Times

But more than anything else, the Bob Jones debacle is a telling case study of the importance of symbolic politics.

The New York Times

Law schools do not teach how to handicap trials, nor do they help develop the important skill of telling a client that a case is not a winner.

The New York Times

"Judges are told this case is a priority this week and this other kind of case is a priority next week," she said.

Huffington Post

"Every day, we've been told the case is going to be dismissed," he said.

The New York Times

The selection is usually made by a draw from a wheel in the office of the court clerk, but prosecutors have also been known to try to game the system by telling the clerk that a new case is factually related to an older one that had been presided over by a favored judge.

The New Yorker

A final case is Paul, who told us about learning that the business he'd recently purchased was no longer profitable.

Harvard Business Review

Strong or not, Greg's case is a telling one in the national debate over just what is accomplished by sentencing juveniles to long prison sentences.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Cazares case is a telling example: 18 family members were taken from three homes in Matamoros over a few hours on the morning of July 9. Their houses and offices are now shuttered, stripped nearly bare by thieves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a telling case is" to introduce a specific example that clearly illustrates a broader point or trend. Make sure the example provides concrete evidence or insight.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences or paragraphs with "a telling case is". Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "a significant example is" or "a revealing instance is" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a telling case is" functions as an introductory phrase to highlight an example or situation that effectively illustrates a particular point or argument. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science & Research

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a telling case is" serves as a grammatically correct and effective way to introduce an illustrative example. While not overly common, as shown in the Ludwig examples, it's versatile enough for various contexts, particularly news and media. Remember to use this phrase judiciously and ensure that your chosen example strongly supports your argument. Using alternatives as "a revealing instance is", or "a significant example is" can prevent overuse and maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a revealing instance is

Replaces "telling" with "revealing", emphasizing the illustrative example brings something to light.

a significant example is

Uses "significant" to highlight the importance of the example, rather than its illustrative power.

a prime illustration is

Substitutes "telling" with "prime illustration", giving more emphasis to the illustrative side of the example.

a notable case is

Focuses on the noteworthiness of the case, implying it deserves attention.

a striking example is

Emphasizes the impact or surprising nature of the example.

a demonstrative case is

Highlights the example's ability to clearly show a principle or concept.

a classic example is

Implies the example is well-known or representative of a larger trend.

consider the case of

Shifts the focus to asking the audience to directly consider the example.

take the case of

Less formal version of "consider the case of", also asking for direct consideration.

the case in point is

Highlights that the example is directly relevant to the current discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "a telling case is" in a sentence?

Use "a telling case is" to introduce an example that effectively illustrates a point. For example, "In the debate about data privacy, "a telling case is" the recent breach at Company X, which exposed millions of users' personal information".

What can I say instead of "a telling case is"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant example is", "a revealing instance is", or "a notable case is" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a telling case is" formal or informal?

"A telling case is" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "a significant example is" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

How do I ensure the example I use after "a telling case is" is actually effective?

Make sure the example is directly relevant to the point you're making, provides concrete evidence, and is easily understood by your audience. A weak or irrelevant example will undermine your argument.