the case in point

USAGE SUMMARY

"the case in point" is correct and it can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a specific example or detail that has been mentioned previously. For example, "It seems that people are not following preventative measures to reduce the spread of the virus. The case in point: many individuals are still not wearing face masks in public."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Robertson is the case in point.

The Guardian - Sport

AIDS is the case in point.

The New York Times - Arts

Mkhitaryan's expertly delivered free-kick for the second goal was the case in point.

The Guardian - Sport

– the case in point is actually that of a nonhuman animal.

The Guardian - Books

The equaliser was the case in point, with Robertson giving away a needless free-kick to leave his team vulnerable.

The Guardian - Sport

Jennifer Capriati's victory in the Australian Open after several difficult years is precisely the case in point.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Pageonce, the maker of a personal finance service for your mobile device, would seem to be the case-in-point.

TechCrunch

When we teach using the case-in-point approach, we're helping our students learn how to act their way into knowing what is right for their specific organization rather than bestowing our knowledge for them to apply, whether it fits their circumstances or not.

Johns Hopkins University

China, India and Brazil are some of the cases in point (Mickelson 2009).

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

The cases in point are the Mwanje experiment in Zimbabwe and the Coxitore community in Brazil.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Case-in-point: the comunas of Medellin, Colombia.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the case in point" to clearly signal that you are about to provide a specific example to support your argument. This helps maintain clarity and focus for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "the case in point" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing your sentences to introduce examples more naturally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the case in point" functions as a transitional phrase or discourse marker. It serves to introduce an example or specific instance that supports or clarifies a previous statement. Ludwig examples demonstrate this function clearly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the case in point" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to introduce supporting examples. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "a prime example" or "for instance" for varied writing. It functions as a transition to provide evidence or illustrations in order to strengthen arguments, maintaining a neutral to formal register and appearing most commonly in news, scientific, and academic sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prime example

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression indicating a typical or excellent example.

a telling illustration

Substitutes "case" with "illustration" and adds emphasis with "telling", highlighting how clearly the example demonstrates the point.

a relevant instance

Uses "instance" to mean a particular occurrence and "relevant" to stress its pertinence to the topic.

a specific example

Offers a more direct and straightforward alternative, focusing on the exemplifying nature of the instance.

as an illustration

Presents the example as a demonstration or clarification of a point already made.

for instance

Provides a brief and simple way to introduce an example.

to illustrate

Introduces the example with an infinitive phrase indicating purpose.

take for example

Suggests considering a particular instance to support a point.

consider this

Directs attention to the following example, often implying it will prove a point.

this demonstrates

Shifts the focus to what the example proves rather than introducing the example itself.

FAQs

How can I use "the case in point" in a sentence?

You can use "the case in point" to introduce an example that supports your argument. For example, "Preventative measures are not followed by the population, "the case in point": many individuals are still not wearing face masks in public".

What phrases are similar to "the case in point"?

Similar phrases include "a prime example", "a telling illustration", or simply "for instance". The choice depends on the level of formality and the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "the case in point" when giving an example?

No, while "the case in point" is a useful phrase, it's not always necessary. You can often introduce examples more naturally by using phrases like "for example" or by simply stating the example directly.

What's the difference between "the case in point" and "for example"?

"The case in point" is typically used to highlight an example that strongly supports a previous statement. "For example" is a more general way to introduce an example, without necessarily emphasizing its significance.