serving as an illustration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serving as an illustration" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is providing an example or clarification of a point being made. Example: "The following case study is serving as an illustration of the challenges faced by small businesses in the current economy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It wasn't terribly dignified for the poor koala though, which had enough to worry about without serving as an illustration for the fact that a male koala's equipment is installed upside down, with the testicles at the top.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The career of Norman Podhoretz might serve as an illustration.

The New York Times - Magazine

There's a myth that could serve as an illustration here.

The New Yorker

Successive titles in Spain and England serve as an illustration of his quality.

The Guardian - Sport

The rooftop Hula-Hoop piece could have served as an illustration for the Guagnini talk.

The New York Times - Arts

The video served as an illustration of the ills of the "post-feminist" world it claimed we lived in.

The Guardian

Corporate India "looks more like an exemplar of dynamic, competitive capitalism than of concentrated market power and economic entrenchment," the authors write.Crompton Greaves again serves as an illustration.

The Economist

The idea was to assess whether a mushroom cloud would be visible from Earth, and therefore able to serve as an illustration of the United States' military might.

The New Yorker

While the Sun-Intel deal announced Monday had no impact during the December quarter, it serves as an illustration of A.M.D.'s precarious position as it tries to hold on to the market share gains of the past year.

The New York Times - Tech

His distortions serve as an illustration of a depressing remark once made by the literary theorist Stanley Fish - that the death of objectivity "relieves me of the obligation to be right"; it "demands only that I be interesting".

The New York Times

On Road 9, Cilantro Coffee was closed but Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf were open, and the local Pizza Hut was fine — a stark contrast to the Tahrir branch, whose flooded interior has served as an illustration of downtown's ruin.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serving as an illustration" to introduce a specific example that clarifies a more abstract concept. It is particularly effective when the example is concrete and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "serving as an illustration" repeatedly within a short span of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "for example" or "to demonstrate" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serving as an illustration" functions primarily as a transitional phrase or discourse marker. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It connects a general statement or concept to a specific example, clarifying the former with the latter.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serving as an illustration" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, employed to introduce a clarifying example. While it's not exceedingly common, appearing more frequently in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for diverse writing scenarios. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives such as "acting as an example" or "exemplifying". Remember to use it judiciously to enhance clarity and engagement in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illustrating

A single verb alternative that keeps the 'illustration' concept.

acting as an example

Changes the verb from "serving" to "acting" but maintains the core meaning.

functioning as a demonstration

Replaces "illustration" with "demonstration" and "serving" with "functioning", altering the tone slightly.

providing an instance of

Uses more formal language to convey the same idea.

exemplifying

A single-word verb replacing the entire phrase, making it more concise.

giving a clear picture of

Emphasizes clarity and visual understanding.

showing how it works

Simplifies the language to focus on practical application.

highlighting the nature of

Focuses on revealing the essential qualities of something.

representing a case of

Positions the subject as a specific instance of a broader category.

demonstrating

A single verb alternative with focus on proving the validity.

FAQs

How can I use "serving as an illustration" in a sentence?

You can use "serving as an illustration" to introduce an example that clarifies a point. For instance, "The following case study is "serving as an illustration" of the challenges faced by small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "serving as an illustration"?

Some alternatives include "acting as an example", "functioning as a demonstration", or "exemplifying", depending on the context.

Is "serving as an illustration" formal or informal?

"Serving as an illustration" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and tone than on the phrase itself.

What is the difference between "serving as an illustration" and "for example"?

"Serving as an illustration" explicitly indicates that what follows is meant to clarify a point, whereas "for example" simply introduces an instance without necessarily emphasizing its illustrative purpose. Using "serving as an illustration" emphasizes the clarifying nature of the example.