Learn transition words and phrases to introduce examples in speaking and writing. Then see how much you understand by taking a short quiz.

Here are some common transition words you can use to introduce examples while giving a presentation or writing a paper.

Introductory phrases/transition words

1. For example
2. For instance
3. Such as
4. Namely
5. In particular
6. To illustrate
7. Specifically
8. Including
9. Consider
10. As in the case of
11. This can be seen in

Now, look at how introductory phrases are used in a TED talk about interpreting data.

Notice how these words signal to the listener that there is an example that the speaker is about to explain.

1. “Take, for instance, the stats around teens and cigarettes.”
   • The phrase “Take, for instance” introduces a specific example to support the preceding discussion.
2. “So instead, I look for outliers.”
   • The word “instead” indicates a shift to a different approach or perspective.
3. “According to the CDC, between 1997 and 2019, the percentage of…”
   • “According to the CDC” introduces a citation of a source being presented.
4. “Like my mom, for example. She doesn’t like being on camera…”
   • “For example” emphasizes that the following case (the speaker’s mom) serves as a specific illustration of a broader idea.
5. “If you look hard enough, you’ll find that these lost birds pop up everywhere.”
   • “You’ll find” indirectly introduces examples (implying multiple cases outliers).

***After looking at the introductory phrases and above examples, which of these terms do you typically use while speaking or writing? Which words aren’t as familiar to you? Are there some that are more common for speaking or writing? Explain.

What about writing? Using the correct punctuation with transition words in writing:

Let’s look at this graph about smoking from the CDC. How would you describe this graph? What is the title and purpose? What overall patterns or trends and outliers stand out to you?

Now, pay close attention to the punctuation used in the introductory phrases to present these examples.

What do you notice about the periods, commas, and semi-colons being used?

1. For example/ For instance

The transition word “For example” can go in the beginning or middle of a sentence.

• Beginning of sentence
• E-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. For example, 5.9% of youth use E-cigarettes.
• Middle of sentence
• E-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product among youth; for example, 5.9% of youth use E-cigarettes.
• Middle of the sentence
• E-cigarettes, for instance, remain the most commonly used tobacco product among youth.

2. Such as/like

“Such as” and “like” introduce examples and can go within a sentence, following an idea, or be a part of a dependent clause.

• Within a sentence (list)
• The graph highlights the prevalence of different tobacco products among youth, such as E-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, cigarettes, and cigars to name a few.
• Following an idea
• The bar graph shows the prevalence of different tobacco products among youth, like the percentage of youth who use hookahs.
• Part of a dependent clause
• Certain trends, such as the frequency of E-cigarettes, are evident in this bar graph.

3. As in the case of

“As in the case of” is a way to talk about a particular situation. This phrase can be found at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

• At the beginning of a sentence
• As in the case of the bar graph, a key pattern is that the overall use of traditional tobacco products, such as cigarettes (1.4%) and cigars (1.2%), is relatively low compared to electronic forms.
• In the middle of a sentence
• Certain tobacco products, as in the case of traditional forms of smoking, have declined.
• At the end of a sentence
• The results show that alternative forms of tobacco are more popular, as in the case of electronic cigarettes.

4. Specifically/Namely

“Specifically” and “Namely” can be used as stand-alone phrases after a comma or mid-sentence.

• As a stand-alone clarification
• Two statistics stand out as outliers in the data set, specifically hookah usage (0.7%) and pipes (0.5%).
• Mid-sentence
• Two tobacco products, namely hookahs and pipes, stand out as outliers in the data set.

5. In particular

In particular can be used to highlight specific examples. This transition word can be found at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.

• At the beginning of a sentence
• In particular, this graph helps identify trends in tobacco use among middle and high school students in the U.S.
• In the middle of a sentence
• The bar graph, in particular, emphasizes the prevalence of tobacco use in the U.S.

What do you think?

1. Does anything surprise you about these statistics? Explain.
2. Is this graph accurate according to your own personal experiences or knowledge of today’s youth?
3. Do you think the data in this chart is troubling or encouraging? Explain your point of view.
4. How do you think that this graph would compare to data from tobacco use in youth from 15 years ago?
5. Based on the data in this graph, what public health strategies would you adopt to target these statistics?

Got it? Now practice using introductory phrases in this short quiz.

Continue to page 4 to share your own unique thoughts, opinions, and ideas with learners from around the world.