this illustrates to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this illustrates to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when explaining or demonstrating a point to someone, but it requires a direct object to complete the thought. Example: "This illustrates to the audience the importance of teamwork in achieving success."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"This illustrates to me that anyone is vulnerable to an effective scam artist," Mr. Willey said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And as this show illustrates, to this day the legend is kept alive by Ethiopian artists.

The New York Times - Arts

This is illustrated to great effect in the hands-on DIY department.

The Guardian - Tech

What this illustrates, according to co-founder and CEO Sean Rad, is, "Tinder is here to stay.

TechCrunch

This illustrates its importance to service users.

BMC Health Services Research

This illustrates one way to introduce communicative constraints.

Aphasiology

This illustrates its ability to grow and compete in many environments and cropping systems.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

"This illustrates DiDi's efforts to continuously improve our one-stop transportation platform," Fu added.

TechCrunch

This illustrates possible targets related to BC bone metastasis.

Cancer Science

This exercise illustrates ways to balance multiple sources of power.

Harvard University

At the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Dr. Lauer likes to illustrate this to medical students when they visit the cardiology ward there.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "this illustrates to". Instead, use more grammatically correct alternatives such as "this illustrates" or "this demonstrates" followed by the subject. For example: "This illustrates the importance of teamwork."

Common error

The preposition "to" is often unnecessary and grammatically incorrect after "illustrates". Omitting "to" results in a clearer and more concise sentence. Example: Instead of "This illustrates to me..." say "This illustrates..."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this illustrates to" functions as a demonstrative introducer followed by an incorrect prepositional phrase. It aims to introduce an example or explanation, but the inclusion of "to" is grammatically flawed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this illustrates to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While its intent is to introduce an example or explanation, the presence of "to" is typically unnecessary and stylistically awkward. It's better to use alternatives such as "this illustrates", "this demonstrates", or other similar phrases. While the phrase appears in various sources, including news, scientific, and academic contexts, its incorrect grammar makes it less suitable for formal or professional writing. Pay attention to better phrasing alternatives and avoid this construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this demonstrates

Replaces "illustrates to" with a more direct and grammatically sound verb.

this shows

A simpler and more common way to indicate that something is being made evident.

this exemplifies

Uses a more formal verb to indicate that something serves as a typical example.

this clarifies

Focuses on the act of making something clearer or easier to understand.

this highlights

Emphasizes the act of drawing attention to a specific aspect or detail.

this indicates

Suggests that something points to or signifies a particular fact or conclusion.

this proves

Implies a stronger level of evidence or certainty.

this underscores

Highlights the importance or significance of something.

this explains

Indicates that something makes the reason or cause for something clear.

this reveals

Suggests that something uncovers or discloses previously unknown information.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "illustrate" in a sentence?

The verb "illustrate" typically takes a direct object. For instance, you can say "This example illustrates the point" or "The graph illustrates the trend". Avoid using "illustrates to" as it is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "this illustrates to"?

You can use alternatives like "this demonstrates", "this shows", or "this exemplifies" depending on the context.

Is "this illustrates to me" grammatically correct?

No, "this illustrates to me" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. A more appropriate phrasing would be "this illustrates to me that..." or simply "this illustrates..." or "this demonstrates to me...".

What's the difference between "this illustrates" and "this demonstrates"?

While both phrases can be used to introduce an example or explanation, "this illustrates" is often used to provide a visual or concrete example, whereas "this demonstrates" can be used for more abstract or logical explanations.