Cohesion & Flow

Example Markers

Use for example, for instance, such as to introduce evidence.

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What & why

What it is
Signposting phrases such as "for example," "for instance," "such as," or "specifically" that tell listeners a concrete case is about to support a general claim. They mark the move from abstract statement to evidence, prompting the audience to expect and process an illustration. Used after a broad point, they make the claim more believable and easier to picture, and they signal that you can substantiate what you assert rather than leaving it as an unsupported generalization.
Why it works

Abstract claims are hard to hold onto because they give the mind nothing concrete to anchor to. An example marker like "for instance" cues listeners that a vivid, specific case is coming, so they shift from skeptical processing to picturing it. Concrete cases tend to be easier to remember and to feel more believable than general assertions, and the marker also signals that you can back up your claim. That builds credibility while lowering the effort needed to grasp what you mean.

Before & after

Before

“Quality improved.”

After

“Quality improved, for example, our defect rate dropped by half.”

When you’ll use it

Data presentations: 'User engagement improved significantly. For instance, session duration increased 40% and bounce rate dropped 25%.'

Problem explanations: 'Several issues emerged during testing. Specifically, login failures, slow load times, and broken links.'

Success stories: 'Our partnerships delivered results. For example, the Microsoft integration alone brought in 200 new customers.'

Pro tip

Flag an example before giving it.

Questions & answers

What are example markers in business presentations?

Example markers signal when you're providing illustrations, cases, or instances, using phrases like 'for example,' 'such as,' 'for instance,' 'to illustrate,' and 'consider this case.' They help audiences understand abstract concepts through concrete examples.

How do example markers improve presentation clarity?

Example markers prepare audiences for illustrations, make abstract concepts concrete, improve comprehension through specific cases, provide mental breaks in complex content, and help audiences connect theory to practical application.

What are most effective example markers for business communication?

Use clear, professional markers like 'For example,' 'Consider this case,' 'To illustrate,' 'A specific instance is,' and 'This can be seen in.' Choose markers that sound natural and match your communication style.

Learn more

Purdue OWL - Transitional Devices
UNC Writing Center - Transitions
VirtualSpeech - Speech Transitions: Words & Phrases

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