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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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showed a demonstration

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "showed a demonstration" is not correct in standard written English.
It is redundant because "showed" and "demonstration" convey similar meanings. Example: "The teacher showed a demonstration of the experiment to the class."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The former is showing a demonstration of 300,000 people in Damascus in support of the president.

News & Media

The Guardian

He shows a demonstration: a National Geographic article about Mexican mangroves with a fast-loading gallery of photographs.

In a video showing a demonstration of the new robot, the Double can be seen attending a meeting in an office.

News & Media

The New York Times

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 5.26pm BST17:26 A protest with 'anti-aircraft protection' The video above is said to show a demonstration in al-Bab, Aleppo province, earlier today.

News & Media

The Guardian

There is a video on Apple Insider showing a demonstration of it working.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Figure 8 shows a demonstration of pick-and-place in the teaching phase.

Figure 10 shows a demonstration of pushing in the teaching phase.

After dealing with the functions of each module inside three parts, this paper shows a demonstration on an actual space.

11 40am – They're now showing a demonstration of CODA integrated with Salesforce: there are API's to everything again, so developers can tap the CODA API's as well and write in Apex.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Perhaps most famous is the Equine Experience, in which guests are taken to a nearby horse ranch, shown a demonstration on how to groom a horse and then charged with doing it themselves.

News & Media

Forbes

On 26 April 1941, the Prime Minister was shown a demonstration of the airborne force that Britain currently possessed, and was informed that although some 800 parachute troops had been trained, their deployment was severely limited by the lack of suitable aircraft which could be used to transport them to any prospective targets.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid redundancy by using either "showed" or "gave a demonstration", but not both. Choose the wording that best fits the context. For example, instead of saying "The presenter showed a demonstration", say "The presenter gave a demonstration" or "The presenter showed the process".

Common error

A common mistake is using both "showed" and "demonstration" together, which is redundant. Using phrases like "presented a demonstration" or "demonstrated" directly makes your writing more concise and clear. For example, instead of "The video showed a demonstration", use "The video demonstrated the process".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "showed a demonstration" functions as a verbal phrase describing the act of presenting or displaying a demonstration. However, Ludwig AI notes that it's considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy, as both words carry similar meanings.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "showed a demonstration" is grammatically redundant and is better replaced with alternatives such as "presented a demonstration", "gave a demonstration", or the single word "demonstrated". As Ludwig AI points out, using both "showed" and "demonstration" creates unnecessary repetition. While the phrase appears in various sources, opting for more concise wording enhances clarity and professionalism in writing. Avoiding redundancy is key to effective communication.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "showed a demonstration"?

You can use alternatives like "presented a demonstration", "gave a demonstration", or simply "demonstrated" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "showed a demonstration"?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "showed a demonstration" is not correct in standard written English because it is redundant. "Showed" and "demonstration" convey similar meanings, making the phrase unnecessarily repetitive.

Which is better, "showed a demonstration" or "gave a demonstration"?

"Gave a demonstration" is generally preferred over "showed a demonstration" because it avoids redundancy and is considered more grammatically sound. Both are acceptable, but the former is more concise.

How can I make my writing more concise when describing a demonstration?

To be more concise, use the verb "demonstrate" directly. For example, instead of saying "The instructor showed a demonstration of the technique", say "The instructor demonstrated the technique".

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Real-world application tested

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