illustrate a message

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "illustrate a message" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to convey or clarify a particular idea or concept through visual means or examples. Example: "The artist was able to illustrate a message about environmental conservation through her powerful paintings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

From marbled etched with robot arms or pink buffalos made of bubble gum, the point of these works is to illustrate a message of tangibility and whimsy.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

David Simon knows how to convey a message through an ecosystem; a network of plots and sub-plots that illustrate a basic message.

Vice

An instinctive Modernist, Pick understood that a poster should be more than just a picture illustrating a verbal message; it was, at best, a high-impact fusion of image and text, an art form unto itself.

The New York Times - Arts

Each installation paints a particular story, illustrating a prevalent message that needs to be addressed in today's society".

Vice

Such gestures have fallen short in the eyes of many Muslim leaders, who say the Detroit incident and others illustrate a disconnect between Mr. Obama's message of unity and his campaign strategy.

The New York Times

But last night Brooks recalled the mood of the time, illustrated by a message he got from an American naval officer on a destroyer.

The New York Times - Sports

Recently, a UK alcohol awareness organisation (Balance) broadcasted a TV ad in the north-east of England that depicts a tumour growing in a glass of beer a man is drinking to illustrate the message that alcohol increases a person's risk of cancer.

BMJ Open

What better way to illustrate their message and set a strong example than by having Justin talk about the compelling work of Girl Rising on Women in Media?

Huffington Post

To illustrate, conventional message queues are frequently deployed to enable parallelism by using a broker to decouple the sender and receiver.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

The app then generates a preview of the Wordeo — by automatically selecting related clips to illustrate the message.

TechCrunch

Two recent cases illustrate that message.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "illustrate a message", consider what kind of illustration will be most effective. Is it a visual aid, a detailed example, or an analogy? Choose the method that best clarifies your point.

Common error

Avoid using visuals or examples that are too abstract or disconnected from the main message. Ensure the illustration directly supports and clarifies the point, rather than confusing the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "illustrate a message" functions as a verb phrase where "illustrate" is the verb and "a message" is the object. The primary grammatical function is to describe the action of clarifying or exemplifying a message through various means. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "illustrate a message" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the act of clarifying a message through examples, visuals, or analogies. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in written English, found across diverse contexts like News & Media, Science and Formal & Business settings. To effectively "illustrate a message", it is important to choose illustrations that are relevant and clear, enhancing rather than distracting from the main point. Alternatives like "show a message", "convey a message", and "depict a message" offer similar but slightly nuanced ways to express this idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

show a message

Focuses on displaying the message, potentially in a less elaborate manner.

convey a message

Emphasizes the act of transmitting or communicating a message effectively.

depict a message

Implies a visual representation or portrayal of the message.

clarify a message

Highlights making the message clearer and easier to understand.

elucidate a message

Suggests shedding light on the message, making it more comprehensible.

embody a message

Implies representing the message in a tangible or concrete way.

exemplify a message

Focuses on providing an example that embodies the message.

demonstrate a message

Highlights the act of proving or showing the validity of the message.

represent a message

Indicates standing for or symbolizing the message.

portray a message

Focuses on representing the message, often through artistic means.

FAQs

How can I effectively "illustrate a message" in my writing?

Use concrete examples, anecdotes, or analogies that directly relate to and clarify your main point. Ensure the illustration strengthens the message rather than distracting from it.

What are some alternatives to "illustrate a message"?

You can use alternatives like "show a message", "convey a message", or "depict a message" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to "illustrate a message"?

While not always necessary, illustrating your message can significantly improve clarity and impact, especially when dealing with complex or abstract concepts. Examples and visuals can make your message more accessible and memorable.

What's the difference between "illustrate a message" and "explain a message"?

"Illustrate a message" implies providing examples, visuals, or scenarios to clarify the message. "Explain a message" focuses on providing a detailed account or rationale to make the message understandable.