imaginary example

USAGE SUMMARY

"imaginary example" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to provide an example that is hypothetical or made up. For example, "The teacher gave the class an imaginary example of a rocket entering the atmosphere to explain the concept of drag."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Officials cite the imaginary example of a British man who retires to the Dordogne.

The Economist

Offering an imaginary example of the sort of thing a wife might say to tease her husband, he suggests: "Someday, I'm going to hear muffled cries for help coming from your office, darling, and it will turn out that you have been buried in an avalanche of papers and books.

The Guardian - Books

Dretske (1996) argues the case with another imaginary example.

SEP

An imaginary example illustrates one way of assessing heritability.

SEP

Fortunately, last month's scenario was just a simulation," he wrote in a largely unconvincing imaginary example to prove why we needed enhanced surveillance.

TechCrunch

McMahan provides an especially interesting imaginary example involving cognitively enhanced Superchimps, which, on the account under consideration, generates counterintuitive consequences for the moral status of the unenhanced chimps.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The students in the arts-making workshop were asked to direct their attention to a specific patient, whereas those in the problem-solving group focused on an imaginary case example.

BMC Medical Education

These are imaginary examples, but they point to a connection between privacy and autonomy that is often missed in contemporary debates.

The Guardian - Tech

This is achieved by endowing the neural controller with a secondary neural system that, by exploiting the sensorimotor skills already acquired by the robot, is able to generate additional imaginary examples that can be used by the controller itself to improve the performance through a simulated mental training.

Neural Networks

A generic outline of Caipirini's workflow is presented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, where the overview is organized in discrete steps around an imaginary example-scenario.

BioData Mining

Imaginary philosophical examples are always told by an omniscient narrator, but of course real-life cases of blame are never like that, and we have to rely on our fallible judgments about the obscure motivations of other human beings.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "imaginary example", ensure the context clearly indicates that the example is not real but serves an illustrative purpose. State explicitly it's not based on factual information.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "imaginary example" as if it were a real case study. This can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility. Always make it clear that the example is hypothetical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "imaginary example" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "imaginary" modifies the noun "example". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English for providing hypothetical illustrations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "imaginary example" is a common and grammatically sound way to introduce a hypothetical scenario for illustrative purposes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. Its purpose is to simplify complex concepts, explore potential outcomes, or facilitate understanding without relying on real-world data. While versatile, it's crucial to clearly indicate that the example is not based on factual information to avoid misleading the audience. Related alternatives include "hypothetical scenario" and "fictional instance", each offering a slightly different shade of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

purely hypothetical instance

Adds "purely" for emphasis, reiterating the unrealistic nature.

hypothetical scenario

Replaces "example" with "scenario", emphasizing the theoretical nature.

fictional instance

Substitutes "imaginary" with "fictional" and "example" with "instance", suggesting a narrative context.

theoretical illustration

Replaces both words with more formal synonyms, indicating a textbook or academic setting.

supposed case

Suggests a situation that is assumed or alleged, not necessarily true.

simulated situation

Emphasizes the artificial and constructed nature of the example.

invented case

Highlights the deliberate creation of the example.

contrived example

Implies that the example is somewhat forced or unnatural.

conceptual model

Shifts the focus to a model or framework that exists only in concept.

notional situation

Uses "notional" to imply something that exists only in theory.

FAQs

How can I use "imaginary example" in a sentence?

Use "imaginary example" to introduce a hypothetical scenario used for illustration, for example: "Let's consider an imaginary example to better understand the concept."

What is a good alternative to "imaginary example"?

Alternatives include "hypothetical scenario", "fictional instance", or "theoretical illustration", each offering a slightly different nuance.

When is it appropriate to use an "imaginary example"?

It's appropriate when explaining complex concepts, illustrating potential outcomes, or exploring ideas without needing real-world data.

What's the difference between "imaginary example" and "real-life example"?

An "imaginary example" is a made-up scenario used for illustration, whereas a "real-life example" describes an actual event or situation.