as a single example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a single example" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to illustrate a point or concept by providing one specific instance or case. Example: "There are many ways to approach this problem, but as a single example, consider the method used in the previous study."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

As a single example of the distorting impact of their work, YouGov in December 2012, working for the TUC, found that the average public perception was that 41% of the welfare budget was spent on the unemployed.

The Guardian

As a single example, take Bedfordshire, where according to county councillor Tony Mitchell, 12% of the county's brightest children are skimmed off by four private schools in the Harpur Trust.

The Guardian

That is where the crime is booming, where, as a single example, an 18-year-old lone woman with a child is more than five times more likely than the average to be a crime victim, far away from the statisticians and the politicians and their celebrations of success.

The Guardian

Those efforts are echoed in the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, where the almost overwhelming effect of seeing the rooms precisely as she described them is muted by attempts to treat Anne's fate as a single example of worldwide violence and injustice.

The New York Times - Arts

As a single example, I wrote about the release of one such dataset on hospital pricing released last year by the Government (here).

Forbes

To make a fair comparison, we used the same experiment settings, such as identical frame and hop sizes, concatenating four frames as a single example and standardizing to have a zero mean and unit variance.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The novel's uneasy love story of insecure anti-hero tough, Machin, and his world-weary landlady, Mrs Howard, earthily provides harrowing off-field narrative, but it is in the raw sporting passages where the reader can wince at the resonance of uncomfortable truths as in, to take a single example, this touchline gallop by the malcontent, joyless Machin.

The Guardian - Sport

The difference was, he succeeded in relocating that 19th-century bridge, while his ambitions as an automaker yielded only a single example of the Paxton Phoenix.

The New York Times

It would be far more useful to try and summarize all of the deviations observed as opposed to just presenting a single example.

Biology Direct

Here there are no lessons learned as the MTE has not found a single example in the ANSP countries.

Unicef

The forensic occupational therapy online discussion group was selected as a single case example representing a point of convergence for occupational therapists who tend to be quite isolated from other occupational therapists in similar practice settings.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a single example" to clearly signal that you are providing one specific instance to illustrate a broader point, enhancing clarity for the reader. This phrase works best when you want to focus attention on a particular case, rather than listing multiple examples.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "as a single example" in short pieces of writing. While it's a valid phrase, relying on it too heavily can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using alternatives like "for instance" or "to illustrate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a single example" functions as an introductory phrase. According to Ludwig, it serves to signal the introduction of a specific instance meant to illustrate a broader point or concept, providing clarity and emphasis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as a single example" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that serves to introduce a specific instance meant to illustrate a broader concept. According to Ludwig, while grammatically correct, it appears with uncommon frequency in written English, spanning various contexts including news, science, and formal business settings. The phrase functions as an introductory element, offering clarity and emphasis to the illustration provided. As such, writers should use it judiciously, being mindful of potential redundancy and varying their language with alternatives like "for instance" or "to illustrate" to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a case in point

Replaces "example" with "case in point", emphasizing the relevance of the instance to the argument.

for instance

A more concise and direct way to introduce an example.

by way of illustration

A more formal way to introduce an example, emphasizing its illustrative purpose.

to cite an instance

Focuses on the act of citing a specific occurrence.

as an illustration

A slightly more formal alternative, highlighting the illustrative nature of the example.

to give a specific example

Emphasizes the act of providing a concrete instance.

consider this example

Invites the audience to focus on the given example.

take for example

Slightly more conversational way to introduce an example.

one such instance is

Highlights the instance as being one of many.

a prime example is

Emphasizes that the instance is the most relevant or best representing the idea.

FAQs

What is the purpose of using "as a single example" in writing?

The phrase "as a single example" is used to introduce a specific instance or case that illustrates a more general point or concept. It helps to provide concrete evidence or clarification to support an argument or explanation.

How can I use "as a single example" in a sentence?

You can use "as a single example" to preface a specific illustration following a general statement. For instance, you might say, "Many factors contribute to climate change; as a single example, consider the impact of deforestation."

Are there alternatives to using "as a single example"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "for instance", "as an illustration", or "to give a specific example" depending on the context.

Is "as a single example" more formal than "for example"?

Yes, "as a single example" generally carries a slightly more formal tone than the simple phrase "for example". Using "for example" is appropriate in most situations, but "as a single example" can add emphasis when you want to draw particular attention to the instance you are providing.