to illustrate a principle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to illustrate a principle' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to provide an example to reinforce a particular idea or point being made. For example, 'The example of a hot air balloon rising in the sky helps to illustrate the principle of the buoyancy of air.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I use that film to illustrate a principle to my students — you can't make an antifascist statement using fascist methods".

The New York Times

The south seems to illustrate a principle of economic development: to be unspoiled is to be left behind.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Rather, it is intended to illustrate a guiding principle that you can apply as you move into the realm of active reading: It is helpful to reflect on your background understanding of a topic before tryiing to learn new material on that topic.

Columbia University

The authors narrate one historical case after another across the globe to illustrate a cardinal principle: robust and inclusive institutions -- political and economic -- are the sine qua non of success.

Huffington Post

Investigators have contrasted the relationship between shape and biomechanics for simple versus more complex lever systems in fish jaws to illustrate a general principle of organismal design [ 25].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

We chose the planarian regeneration dataset to illustrate a proof-of-principle of this novel bioinformatics of shape; we developed a software tool to facilitate the formalization and mining of the planarian experimental knowledge, and cured a database containing all of the experiments from the principal publications on planarian regeneration.

Biology Open

We will use our audit to illustrate a discussion of the principles, including scale selection, and the pitfalls of pain assessment in relation to existing relevant literature.

Breast Cancer Research

To illustrate this principle, a flurry of papers implementing CRISPR/Cas9 technology to edit the zebrafish genome has appeared since our review was published.

Aging

The main purpose of the present work, however, is to illustrate the principle of a methodology for determining the minimum required area for a plant, and hence in order to avoid complexities, the simple Monod equation (for aerobic growth of heterotrophs in excess oxygen as per ASM1 model) has been chosen as the growth kinetics of the activated sludge in the reactor.

Applied Water Science

To illustrate the principle, consider a large population of sexually reproducing organisms.

SEP

Instead, the discussions are an attempt to illustrate the principle under discussion.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to illustrate a principle" to introduce a specific example or case study that will make an abstract idea more concrete and understandable for your audience.

Common error

While "to illustrate a principle" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in your writing. Variety in phrasing makes your writing more engaging and sophisticated. Consider using synonyms like "to exemplify" or "to demonstrate" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to illustrate a principle" functions as an infinitive phrase that introduces a purpose or intention. It sets the stage for providing an example or case that will clarify or demonstrate a specific underlying rule or concept. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to illustrate a principle" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction for introducing an example that clarifies a concept. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. While versatile, it appears most often in scientific, academic, and news contexts. When using the phrase, ensure it effectively connects an abstract principle to a concrete example, enhancing understanding for your audience. While correct, it is suggested to avoid overusing this specific expression by employing alternatives such as "to exemplify a principle", or "to demonstrate a principle", depending on the specific purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to exemplify a principle

Replaces "illustrate" with "exemplify", emphasizing the role of the principle as a perfect example.

to demonstrate a principle

Substitutes "illustrate" with "demonstrate", suggesting a more active and conclusive showing of the principle.

to highlight a principle

Replaces "illustrate" with "highlight", focusing on drawing attention to the principle.

to showcase a principle

Substitutes "illustrate" with "showcase", indicating a presentation of the principle in a favorable light.

to clarify a principle

Replaces "illustrate" with "clarify", stressing the act of making the principle easier to understand.

by way of illustrating a principle

Adds "by way of" to indicate the illustrative purpose more explicitly.

as an illustration of a principle

Transforms the phrase into a noun phrase, emphasizing the example as an instance of the principle.

to provide an example of a principle

Uses a more explicit wording for the illustrative purpose.

to give a demonstration of a principle

Uses "give a demonstration" instead of "illustrate", suggesting a practical application.

to offer an instance of a principle

Replaces "illustration" with "instance", focusing on a particular occurrence of the principle.

FAQs

How can I use "to illustrate a principle" in a sentence?

You can use "to illustrate a principle" to introduce an example that clarifies a specific concept. For instance, "To illustrate a principle of economics, consider the law of supply and demand."

What's a good alternative to "to illustrate a principle"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "to exemplify a principle", "to demonstrate a principle", or "to highlight a principle".

What is the difference between "to illustrate a principle" and "to explain a principle"?

"To illustrate a principle" involves providing an example to make the principle clearer, while "to explain a principle" involves providing a detailed description of the principle itself.

Is it more appropriate to use "to illustrate a principle" in formal or informal writing?

"To illustrate a principle" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, but it is often used in academic, scientific, or professional contexts to introduce concrete examples.