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Often times when it comes to writing and speaking for the TOEFL® we get stuck on HOW to develop our reasons. As a teacher I normally tell my students that Concrete Specific reasons are the best. They are clear and undeniable. You can invent your reasons, but make sure they are clear. A student of mine recently asked me, while we were doing the second independent speaking, “so I can always start with ‘my brother…..’ or ‘last week I….’?” I empathetically affirmed.
Let’s see an example using the following prompt:
If you are given the choice to choose between an all-expense-paid vacation and an all-expense-paid study program to anywhere, what would you choose?
Ex: I would like the all expense paid vacation, especially if I can go to Asia. My first reason is that I could visit the beautiful islands of Indonesia. Recently MY BROTHER went to Sumatra and told me how wonderful the food, people and landscapes were. I would want to hire a yacht and visit all the main islands. My second reason is that LAST WEEK I just finished my second masters and I don’t really want to start another one. After a year of studying, what I really need is the chance to relax: a trip around several thousand islands sounds like the perfect choice.
Even though I just completely invented that sample response, sometimes it is difficult to come up with clear and concrete examples. In that case we are often forced to use simpler linking words such as:
- like
- such as
- for example
- for instance
But how do we use these correctly? I am sure your teacher has told you that you over use “for example” when you should not use it. This could be because it seems to be a very useful Crutch Word, such as “Um” “Uh” or “o sea”, in Spanish. So, in this article we will look at these four words and how to use them.
Let us start by looking at “like” and “such as”.
First, do not just use “as” to try to give an example. The best options are either “like” or “SUCH as”. “Like” and “Such as” are similar in meaning and in use. “Like” is used to show that what follows are references to the group which is to follow. However, the word or words mentioned are not necessarily part of the group. A related use for “like” is to make a comparison:
I enjoy eating foods, like Indian, that are very savory.
In this example Indian food is not necessarily included in the types of foods I enjoy, but it is used as a reference point that everyone can relate to to understand what a “savory” food is similar to. In fact, it could be that I do not like Indian food at all, but I do like Thai, Indonesian, Turkish, or Palestinian.
“Such as” is normally set off between commas, and tries to express that the words that follow are specific parts of the group.
Sometimes dances, such as Swing and Salsa, are great to meet new people.
In this case, both Swing Dance and Salsa are examples of great social dances.
The following example uses both “such as” and “like”:
Other annuals and bi-annuals, like the African Daisy, were used in the past to give garden patios scent, such as Basil Boxwood, Heliotrope and Lobularia.
Can you differentiate the subtle differences of the following examples?
- Jane likes furry creatures like rats.
- Jane likes furry creatures such as rats.
- I can’t stand customers like Mr. Bob. They feel so entitled.
- I can’t stand customers such as Mr. Bob. They feel so entitled.
“For Instance” and “For Example”
“For Instance” and “For Example” are basically the same, except “for example” is used more frequently. They are both used in the beginning or the end of a sentence (not in the middle) to introduce a SPECIFIC thing or person that helps affirm a GENERAL statement. Below are some examples, with for example and for instance. In any of them, either expression could be used.
- The situation is slowly improving. Last month, for example, the company achieved record sales in Europe.
- It was obvious that her memory was failing. For example, she would often forget where she put her car keys.
- A lot of my friends were there—John and Linda, for example.
- Poor balance is a problem for a lot of older people, like my grandmother, for instance.
- Mobile devices are becoming less expensive. Sophisticated smartphones, for instance, can now be purchased for less than $100.
In conclusion
Try to use a variety of linking words to give examples instead of over saturating your writing, or spoken response, with “for example”. A variety of links show the grader that you have a better control of English.
