it illustrates to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it illustrates to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "it illustrates" or "it illustrates that." Example: "The data illustrates that there is a significant correlation between the two variables."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I have highlighted this objective because I believe that it illustrates to particularly good effect how the citizens stand to benefit from European Union intervention in the information society, but, of course, only if we keep our word and fulfil the promises which we have made them.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It illustrated to this Manhattanite the sense of community small-town dwellers must feel.

The New York Times

It illustrated to me just how effective the religious right has been at frightening our community into believing that God hates us, and that the Bible tells us that this is so.

Huffington Post

"When it was first illustrated to me, it seemed he had lost some of his allies and it was going in that direction.

The New York Times - Sports

It also made it easier to illustrate to patients what they were talking about.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The chemical relaxation of nitrogen tetroxide is easy to visualize, and it illustrates principles common to all relaxation phenomena.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But it illustrates the extent to which some couples will go to make their weddings visually unforgettable.

The New York Times

It illustrates his commitment to criminal justice.

The New Yorker

The reason I took this photo is that it illustrates how cuts to public spending are affecting families.

The Guardian - Opinion

It illustrates the relation to other gene technologies.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

It illustrates the urge to make a moral pronouncement.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to show something, use "it illustrates" followed by a noun or clause that explains what is being shown. For instance, "The data "it illustrates" the correlation between exercise and health."

Common error

The phrase "it illustrates to" is redundant. "Illustrate" already implies directionality; therefore, adding "to" is grammatically incorrect. Use "it illustrates" directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it illustrates to" is generally grammatically incorrect. The verb "illustrates" already implies direction; thus, adding "to" is usually redundant. As Ludwig AI suggests, the correct usage is "it illustrates".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it illustrates to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the correct form is "it illustrates". While example sentences exist across diverse source types, the low occurrence underscores the grammatical problem. Alternatives such as "it demonstrates", "it shows", or "it exemplifies" provide grammatically sound options for conveying the intended meaning. Always aim for "it illustrates" to maintain grammatical accuracy and enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it illustrates

This is the grammatically correct form, omitting the unnecessary 'to'.

it exemplifies

This alternative uses a different verb that means 'to be a typical example of something'.

it demonstrates

This suggests that something proves or shows something clearly.

it highlights

This indicates that something draws attention to a particular aspect.

it shows

A simpler alternative indicating that something makes something else clear.

it indicates

This suggests that something points to or signifies something else.

it serves as an illustration

This longer phrase emphasizes the role of something as a specific example.

it provides an example of

This emphasizes the role of something as providing clarity to a case.

it clarifies

This suggests that something makes something easier to understand.

it makes clear

This option is direct, indicating that something removes confusion.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "it illustrates" in a sentence?

Use "it illustrates" followed by the object or idea that's being clarified or exemplified. For example, "The graph "it illustrates" the project's progress".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "it illustrates to"?

Since "it illustrates to" is grammatically incorrect, you can use alternatives such as "it demonstrates", "it shows", or "it exemplifies".

Is "it illustrates to me" grammatically correct?

No, "it illustrates to me" is not grammatically correct. A more appropriate phrasing would be "it illustrates to me", or "it makes clear to me".

What's the difference between "it illustrates" and "it illustrates that"?

"It illustrates" is typically followed by a noun or noun phrase, while "it illustrates that" is followed by a clause. For example, "It illustrates the problem" versus "It illustrates that the problem is complex".