40+ Other Ways to Say 'For Example' & Liven Up Your Writing

Two Latin phrase abbreviations (i.e. and e.g.) are commonly used as other ways to say "for example" in written documents or presentations. These abbreviations are most common in formal documents, such as academic or legal writing.

• e.g. - stands for exempli gratia, which translates to "for example" in English (I have many small appliances, e.g., an air fryer, a slow cooker and a toaster oven.)
• i.e. - stands for id est, which means "that is" in English. (I love my family, i.e., my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.)

There are a few single-word alternatives to using the phrase "for example" in writing. These terms are essentially synonyms for "for example."

• additionally - use to build on what has been said previously (I saw this myself when I went to her house last week. Additionally, I witnessed the same thing last month and the month before.)
• consequently - use when something results from a previous occurrence (I did not pass the last exam after studying the book non-stop for days. Consequently, I used a different approach to prepare for today's test.)
• imagine - use when asking readers to visualize examples (Of course you should vote. Imagine what would happen if everyone decided to stay home on election day.)
• indeed - use for things that illustrate the previous point (I was concerned that people would complain that I brought store-bought cookies. Indeed, the first person who tasted one made a snide remark.)
• similarly - use to add a related example (The garden seems slow this year. The tomatoes took forever to flower. Similarly, the beans seem to be behind schedule as well.)
• specifically - use to give specifics illustrating a more general statement (There are a lot of benefits of baking from scratch. Specifically, scratch baking is much cheaper than using mixes or buying prepared items. Scratch baking also doesn't have preservatives or unpronounceable ingredients.)

There are quite a few two-word phrases that can be used instead of continually repeating "for example" in your writing.

• as documented - use to provide evidence (Weather seems to be getting more extreme, as documented by this year's Atlantic hurricane season and intense fire season in the western states.)
• as illustrated - use with examples that clarify a previous statement (It is possible to onboard employees remotely, as illustrated by the success we had when everyone was working from home during the pandemic.)
• as revealed - use to give examples that prove a point (He is not trustworthy, as revealed by his false statements and devious actions.)
• as suggested - used to report results of a study (There seems to be a link between listening skills and leadership success, as suggested by our employee satisfaction survey.)
• examples include - use to introduce multiple examples (Many types of flour can be used to bake bread. Examples include all-purpose flour, hard white wheat, whole wheat, and einkorn ancient grain.)
• for instance - used when using examples to illustrate something (Our team seems to be resistant to change. For instance, several team members became very upset when management purchased new computers for the team, even though the ones we had were slow and outdated.)
• in fact - used to introduce data (Our employees seem to really like it here. In fact, our annual employee retention is 92 percent.)
• in particular - used for a very specific example (I love camping. In particular, backcountry tent camping in the Great Smoky Mountains is my favorite.)
• let's say - used for a hypothetical scenario (Is your pantry sufficiently stocked? Let's say all of the stores were closed and everything in your refrigerator and freezer had spoiled. Would you have enough food for a month?)
• namely - used for a specific example (Some of the employees are taking advantage of the manager's kindness, namely the ones who come in late and leave early every day.)
• picture this - used to encourage readers to visualize a scenario (Of course we would enjoy a swimming pool! Picture this: you, me and all of our friends relaxing in the pool on a warm summer day.)
• say that - use for a hypothetical situation (It's important to carry a first aid kit in the car. Say that you are away from home and get injured. A first aid kit would really be helpful.)
• such as - use when providing examples as illustrations (There are a lot of great programs on Netflix, such as comedy specials, original series and network shows.)
• suppose that - use to encourage readers to consider a possible situation (Having a space heater is a good idea. Suppose that your central heating unit breaks during a cold snap and you can't schedule a repair for several days. Wouldn't it be great to have a portable heater?)
• to clarify - use with examples intended to make a point clear (I don't like to travel. To clarify, I am fine with driving a few hours for a getaway, but I am not comfortable with airplane or train travel.)
• to demonstrate - use to provide a concrete example (Social media is a powerful marketing tool. To demonstrate, review the comparison of website visitors and sales for these two companies. One is active on social media and one is not.)
• to elucidate - use with a clarifying example (Gardening can save money. To elucidate, I spent $500 on gardening supplies last year. My overall grocery bill was $1,500 less than the previous year, even though prices of individual items increased.)
• to explain - use when providing an example to help clarify meaning (Poetry is just as much about emotion as language. To explain, poetry that doesn't evoke an emotional reaction in readers may be grammatically correct yet still not be a good poem.)
• to illustrate - use to introduce a specific example (Statistics is actually a very practical topic. To illustrate, I use statistics in my business all the time. I use correlations to make decisions about how to allocate the marketing budget.)

Some of the phrases that can be used in place of "for example" in writing have more words than the original phrase. Even though concise writing is important, it can be a good idea to use these longer phrases in order to avoid repetition and liven up your writing.

• as an illustration - use when providing an example that illustrates a point (My two dogs really get along well. As an illustration, they like to cuddle up beside each other when they sleep.)
• as indicated by - when providing backup data (A lot of people are interested in this job, as indicated by the large number of applications received.)
• by way of example - use when sharing a related example (Membership in an auto club is a worthwhile expense. By way of example, last year we had to call for a tow truck three times. Our AAA membership covered all of it with no out-of-pocket fee.)
• by way of illustration - use when providing a clarifying example (Clients who use our services are very happy with the results. By way of illustration, here are three testimonials from our most recent new clients.)
• case in point - use when sharing something that proves a point (Building a strong network is very important for college students. Case in point, I got my first job through someone I met at an American Advertising Federation meeting.)
• consider a situation in which - use for a hypothetical you want readers to see themselves in (It's great to store fully cooked meals in the freezer. Consider a situation in which you become ill and cannot cook. Your family will have quick access to meals if your freezer is stocked with these items.)
• imagine a scenario where - used to ask readers to consider a hypothetical (Do you need to print your favorite recipes? Imagine a scenario where your computer crashed and internet access would not be available for a long period of time. Would you be able to prepare your regular meals?)
• in a similar situation use when sharing a similar example (Our cruise departure was delayed by a day, which led to itinerary changes. In a similar situation, last year we were unable to fly to Europe from New York due to a blizzard that canceled all outgoing flights.)
• in light of - use to introduce specific evidence (Purchasing travel insurance can be a good idea, especially when traveling out of the country. In light of the high cost of international travel and the many factors that can cause plans to change unexpectedly, this protection can be money well spent.)
• in other words - use when you are restating something a different way (My closest friends are the family I chose. In other words, I truly view them as family.)
• look at it from this perspective - use to ask readers to consider another point of view (Should the minimum wage increase? Look at it from this perspective — could you cover your necessary living expenses if you worked a full-time job that paid minimum wage?)
• situations that illustrate - use to provide multiple clarifying examples (Building up an emergency fund is so important. Situations that illustrate this include unexpected costs like a broken stove or heater or unexpected income reduction due to job loss.)
• think about it as if - use to ask readers to consider alternatives (Should companies announce job openings internally? Think about it as if you were hoping to be considered for a promotion only to find out that someone from outside the company was hired for the job before you knew it was available.)
• this would be like - use to introduce similar situations (If we required all employees to require uniforms, this would be like a school environment where managers would be responsible for checking attire and disciplining employees for tress code violations.)
• with this in mind - use to introduce examples or illustrations based on previous information (We know that results won't be available until at least 7 p.m. this evening. With this in mind, let's focus on completing other tasks until that time.)

When writing, reader engagement is always an important consideration. Documents or stories that use the same phrases over and over can be boring and hard to read. Avoid getting too wordy, but do work in some variety in phrasing so that readers won't lose interest. While you're exploring other ways to say common phrases, consider other factors that contribute to quality writing. Start by exploring what effective written communication really is.