this example shows how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this example shows how" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce an illustration or demonstration of a concept, process, or idea in your writing. Example: "This example shows how effective communication can enhance teamwork and productivity in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

This example shows how collecting antiques can be good for the planet.

The Guardian - Opinion

This example shows how to set up playback from the FPGA to line out.

Cornell University

This example shows how the discard buffer can be used with Python's exception handling.

Harvard University

This example shows how to create a 200-row file with a single vector called "sky".

Harvard University

This example shows how young children can learn and play with computers as congenial parts of their environment.

Stanford University

The environment diagram for this example shows how the value bound to chinese is changed by statements involving only suits.

University of California, Berkeley

This example shows how a contour can be displayed using Right Ascension and Declination rather than "sky" or image coordinates.

Harvard University

This example shows how to train an instance of Latent Dirichlet Allocation using the dataset you prepared above.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

This simple example shows how complex the so-called "tax incidence" may be.

Britannica

"Total protection from all possible attacks remains an elusive goal and this latest example shows how effective industry collaboration can be," an online statement read.

Forbes

This unrealistic example shows how determinism could be strictly false, and yet the world be deterministic enough for our concerns about free action to be unchanged.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this example shows how" to clearly introduce an explanation or illustration of a concept, ensuring your reader understands the connection between the example and the point you are making.

Common error

Avoid using "this example shows how" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your sentence structure by sometimes integrating the example directly into your explanation or using alternative phrases like "this illustrates" or "this demonstrates".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this example shows how" functions as an introductory phrase to highlight and explain a specific instance. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase serves to connect a concrete illustration to a broader concept, clarifying its application or implications.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

Academia

35%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this example shows how" is a versatile and frequently used construction for introducing illustrative examples. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and serves to connect specific instances with broader concepts across diverse fields. Its widespread use in scientific, academic, and news contexts underscores its neutrality and clarity, making it a valuable tool for effective communication. Varying the phrasing and avoiding overuse can further enhance its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this example illustrates how

Replaces "shows" with "illustrates", emphasizing the clarifying nature of the example.

this example demonstrates how

Substitutes "shows" with "demonstrates", highlighting the practical application of the example.

this case exemplifies how

Uses "case" instead of "example" and "exemplifies" instead of "shows", suggesting a specific instance that serves as a typical model.

the following example shows how

Adds "following" for emphasis on the example's sequential placement.

the subsequent demonstration shows how

Replaces "example" with "demonstration" and "shows" with "demonstration", offering a bit more emphasis on the act of demonstrating.

this instance reveals how

Employs "instance" instead of "example" and "reveals" instead of "shows", indicating the example uncovers something previously unknown.

this situation highlights how

Replaces "example" with "situation" and "shows" with "highlights", focusing on the prominence of a particular aspect.

the ensuing instance shows how

By using "ensuing" and "instance", this alternative indicates that what will be explained happened right after something else.

as this example shows

Inverts the structure to place emphasis on the example itself.

the case in point reveals how

Replaces "example" with "case in point" to provide a specific, relevant case and also substitutes "shows" with "reveals", indicating the example uncovers something previously unknown.

FAQs

How can I use "this example shows how" in a sentence?

The phrase "this example shows how" is used to introduce an explanation or illustration of a concept. For instance, "This example shows how effective communication can improve team performance."

What are some alternatives to "this example shows how"?

Alternatives include phrases like "this example illustrates how", "this example demonstrates how", or "this case exemplifies how".

Is there a more formal way to say "this example shows how"?

In more formal writing, you might use "this instance reveals how" or "this situation highlights how" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

When is it appropriate to use "this example shows how" in my writing?

It's appropriate to use "this example shows how" when you want to clearly connect a specific instance to a broader principle or concept you are explaining.