It’s a Thursday afternoon, and I’m teaching a group of restless sixth graders some of the finer points of English grammar. As you can probably guess, this isn’t the easiest task in the world.
Several of the students are beginning to whisper back and forth to each other and laugh under their breath. Two others are absorbed in drawing pictures on their worksheets. Another looks like he’s about to fall asleep. I realize I only have a few minutes before I lose complete control of the class.
“Okay,” I say in a loud voice. “For example…” I pick up a marker and begin drawing a stick figure on the whiteboard. “Let’s look at some sentences about Bob. He’s going to help us see when we should and should not use commas in our sentences.”
My illustration on the whiteboard is far from a masterpiece. In fact, my tutoring students are laughing at it. But they’re also sitting up straight in their chairs now and all eyes are on me.
As I write sentences on the board accompanied by funny illustrations of Bob, the kids are eagerly calling out answers to my questions. All I had to do was use the two words, “For example” and come up with stories to illustrate the grammar rules, and I’ve captured their attention once again.
It works like magic every time.
And these two words can work like magic in your writing too.
Why These Words Work Like Magic
Any time you’re discussing an abstract or complicated concept, your readers’ attention begins to wane. The technical terms you’re using slow the rhythm of your writing to a snail’s pace. Your readers begin to struggle to understand what you’re trying to explain and might give up on finishing your article or blog post.
After all, no one enjoys reading an article that sounds like it came out of a dense textbook.
But by using the words “for example” and coming up with a clever story to illustrate the complex concept, you’re able to drag your writing down out of the clouds into the real world. Your readers are able to visualize your concept, and you’re no longer boring them to death.
That’s because stories engage a person’s brain far more powerfully than data and abstract language can. This article in The New York Times explains,
Researchers have long known that the ‘classical’ language regions, like Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, are involved in how the brain interprets written words. What scientists have come to realize in the last few years is that narratives activate many other parts of our brains as well.
For instance, when you read a story about someone running, there’s activity in the motor cortex of your brain. That means that whether you’re reading about someone running or running in real life, “the same neurological regions are stimulated.”
Pretty cool, right?
Essentially, when you start telling a story, your reader’s brain snaps to attention and becomes re-engaged in your writing. The more detailed and descriptive the language you use, the better. Share on XWhen you tell your readers about the tears stinging someone’s eyes, their brain tries to feel that. When you tell them about the scent of apple pie wafting from the kitchen, their brain tries to smell that too.
Ultimately, your stories will not only make your writing more engaging and easier to understand, but they will also make your writing more memorable. According to this article in Forbes, “Cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner suggests we are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it has been wrapped in a story.”
That’s why New York Times best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell peppers his non-fiction books with compelling stories that show the practical application of his theories. He employs this technique so well that some critics have accused him of oversimplifying the phenomena he explains.
How to Use This Technique in Your Own Writing
So, how can you use the words “for example” in your own writing?
I recommend looking through your writing for paragraphs that are dense or abstract or very technical. Anywhere that it’s possible to include a specific example, include it.
Sometimes your story might take up several paragraphs. Sometimes it might be only a sentence long.
Let’s say, for example (!!), you wrote a sentence like this,
According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes about 66 days for an activity to become automatic, and anywhere from 18 days to 254 for it to become a habit.
How could you illustrate that with a story? Here’s a possible beginning to a story:
That means, for example, that if I want to develop the habit of working out every day, it’s not enough for me to just make a New Year’s resolution or buy a membership to a swanky gym. Instead, I have to be intentional about making working out part of my daily routine, maybe by attempting a 30-day challenge.
Here’s another example of a paragraph that explains a technical concept with a very brief and simple illustration:
Economists use the term comparative advantage to describe a person’s skill at producing a good or service at a lower marginal cost and opportunity cost than another person. Take the example of a blogger and her virtual assistant. The blogger is just as skilled as her virtual assistant at responding to emails, but this takes away valuable time that she could be using to craft blog posts. Thus, her opportunity cost is greater than the virtual assistant’s when it comes to replying to emails…
As you saw in the above paragraphs, you can make the phrase “for example” even more powerful by attaching it to action words.
For example (there are those words again!), you might write,
- “Let’s imagine, for example, you’ve just gotten back from the store…”
- “Let’s say, for example, there are two children…”
- “Picture, for example, a cabin by a lake…”
- “This means, for example, that if we all tried to participate…”
- “Take the example of a mother and her daughter…”
- Or just: “Let me give you an example…”
Eventually, as it becomes second nature for you to include stories to illustrate your points, you might be able to jump straight into the story without using the words “for example.”
You might even find out that you don’t need the dense, complex part of your paragraph and can just replace it with a story.
Further, you can use the “for example” exercise to eliminate vague, bland sentences from your writing. For example (yes, I used those words again), instead of writing, “Some days I feel blocked and uninspired and don’t know what to write about”, you could tell a story:
It’s 7:00 in the morning. I woke up extra early so I could have a few hours of uninterrupted writing time before heading to work. All the writing pros say that writing early in the morning is a magical experience. But all I’ve managed to accomplish in the last half hour is rewrite the same paragraph about a hundred times before deleting it entirely.
See how the second version is so much more compelling than the first one?
(Read my article here for more tips on how to write compelling blog posts.)
The Takeaway
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin is said to have once stated,
When one man dies, it’s a tragedy. When thousands die, it’s statistics.
It’s a harsh statement, but it does hold a grain of truth. Large numbers and generalizations do not act on our emotions the same way a vivid story about individuals does.
That’s why an article about finding a cure for Alzheimer’s with stories of Alzheimer’s sufferers and their families is far more powerful than one that only quotes studies and statistics. Those stories will impact your readers more than any study or stat could.
By using the “for example” technique and incorporating stories with specific details into your writing, you make your writing come alive.
How will you use the “for example” technique to make your writing more engaging and captivating? Let me know in the comments.
And if you found this post helpful, please share it with a friend. You can use the image below to share it on Pinterest.
Martha Marshall says
You did a excellent job! This post seem extremely nice.
I have seen something like a couple weeks ago http://findnerd.com/list/view/9-Steps-to-Save-Time-During-Software-Development-Process/52792/, but
you did research, and also your article is apparently more compelling than others.
The disagreements you provided as well as the manner of your
post amazed me. I enjoy when even boring fact is presented in an interactive
method when articles are interesting and informative. Well, it
is on your post.
Elena Smith says
Excellent Write up.
I have thoroughly gone through the article and according to my personal observations you have done a great job writing this Article.Being associated with writing profession, I must mention that AcademicWritingPro are quite helpful nowadays.Furthermore, quality is also an important aspect.
ARCHITH says
Thank you for a great post!
What you are doing to fellow writers around the world is nothing short of the everyday motivation they need to achieve success. Keep up the good work and may we all benefit.
Warm Regards
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you so much, Archie. Your comment brightened my day and encouraged me to keep writing posts like these. 🙂 Glad to hear they are helping other writers.
JB ONeill says
This is my first time reading your information and helpful suggestions. I’ve read so much content on how to improve my writing and the art of storytelling and yours is amazing. It’s user friendly, down to earth and straightforward. Bottom line you are a gem. Thank you for such wonderful advice and help!
JBO
river writes says
This is so true…thanks for writing , Nicole.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Lily says
This is such great advice! And so simple too! I know I enjoy reading the stories and anecdotes used to illustrate points and concepts, but I never intentionally tried to practice that myself. Definitely something I will be conscious of from now on. Great post!
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks, Lily. 🙂 Glad you found this tip helpful and will be able to use it in your own writing. Wishing you much success.
Danie Botha says
Nicole,
We so often forget (to our detriment), to put stories in our writing.
To pepper it with relatable “examples.”
Thanks!
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you for commenting, Danie. 🙂 Stories really do add another dimension to our writing.
Alessandro Tinchini says
Nicole,
these two words have been and still are my life-saving device when I get stuck in fiction writing. They came in handy even in non-fiction, but I mostly got through hard parts in my first novel drafts using examples. My characters got used to say “for example” when their line is hard.
Thanks for sharing!
Nicole Bianchi says
How cool, Alessandro! That’s awesome that you’ve been able to use this technique in your fiction writing too. 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
Mathieu Roy says
I always use action words when introducing examples (and I love that you gave a name to it). Telling the reader “here’s an example” feels a lot less engaging than inviting them to do something with it, even if it’s as simple as “let’s consider this example” or “imagine you were in this situation…”
Plus, it just sounds better to my ear for some reason.
Nicole Bianchi says
Definitely agree, Mathieu. They’re a fantastic way to smoothly transition into the example. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Oby says
WoW! Who would have thought ‘for example’ could be so powerful. Thanks for sharing Nicole.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks, Oby! Hope this tip helps you. 🙂
Mike Mather says
The highlight of my English Literary career was Sixth Grade! I wish you well.
The article today is so beautifully written that I enjoyed reading more than sucking up the information – and these days on the internet, that’s a great relief.
For example, I have been reading and watching Tom Kuegler’s Medium Mastery Course today and need a sleep mid-afternoon. I’ve read your article and I want ice cream!
love alwaz
mike
Nicole Bianchi says
Wow, thanks so much for your kind words, Mike! 🙂 So happy to hear that you not only found value in the post but that you also enjoyed it. (And love that it made you want ice cream). 😉
Kate Findley says
Yes, anytime I’m struggling to explain a concept, “for example” always comes in handy! It also helps in regards to originality. No matter how familiar people are with the idea, the examples will always be fresh because they come from your own life experience!
Nicole Bianchi says
So true, Kate. It does help make our writing more original & thus stand out in readers’ minds as a result. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Lani says
Excellent reminder Nicole. This holds true with public speaking as well. You’ll always see folks sit up straighter in their seats when you start saying, “This reminds me of the time…” or something like that. I think that is why we are seeing such a huge movement with business types trying to craft and hone in on their story, what makes them unique.
I also feel like stories are something other’s can’t ‘take away from you’ or ‘challenge’, you know what I mean? It’s your experience, it’s your point of view. I find it a stronger place to come from especially in the over-saturated self-help genre.
Nicole Bianchi says
Hi, Lani! Thank you for your comment. 🙂 Yes, this is definitely a powerful technique for public speaking too. Love your point about stories being part of our own personal experience and, thus, making our writing more powerful.
Rajlakshmi says
Totally agree with your points. I have noticed that sharing personal stories along with the topic results in more engagement and shares. And readers actually recall reading my post.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks for your comment, Rajlakshmi! Very cool that you have seen great results with this method too. Personal stories really do make blog posts stand out.
Erica Carrico says
I love this thank you for sharing! I use “for example” with my coaching clients all the time. Personal stories resonate so much better than something generic.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks, Erica! 🙂 Yes, this is a great technique to use both in writing and speaking. I know I always love hearing personal stories.
Emily Goodyear says
Great post! I sometimes find myself in stubborn bouts of writer’s block, and I feel like this tip could definitely help me escape the issue while also engaging my readers. No one wants a bored audience! Thank you!
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks for commenting, Emily! 🙂 Great idea. Yes, this would be a fantastic way to overcome writer’s block. Glad you found it helpful. All the best with your writing.
Danielle Bernock says
Love this! Thanks.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you, Danielle. 🙂
Joleisa says
You do have a way of teaching that gets the points across and especially, gets things to stick. Thanks so much for your wise words.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks so much, Joleisa! 🙂 That’s very kind of you.
Janis Cox says
Great post Nicole,
I do try to make sure there is a story in my post somewhere. I will try to remember the words, “for example” and that might remind me.
Blessings
Janis
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you, Janis. Yes, I don’t always use the words “for example” when diving into a story, but they’re great to have in the back of your mind when editing a piece so you remember to include stories.
Gabriel says
Hi, thank you very much for this article. It is simply helpful. I have a new tool for my writing.
Nicole Bianchi says
Yay! So glad to hear you’ll be able to use this in your writing, Gabriel. 🙂
Simon Davidson says
Hi Nicole,
This article is an excellent writing advice. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your piece.
Thanks a zillion
Simon Davidson Papua New Guinea
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks so much, Simon. All the best with your writing. 🙂
Ogbonka Isaac says
This is one of the finest things that will live with me perhaps I have people like you to reach, I’m pretty certain that being out of school isn’t out of learning. As I hanker for clarity in my space of creativity, personally, I will also love to have information on where I can submit my manuscript. Thank you for dispensing useful information.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you for your kind words, Ogbonka. 🙂
Aram says
Nicole,
What a great post! It’s a simple idea that’s immediately useful to me, and already stuck in my head.
Thank you!
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you for your comment, Aram! I’m glad you found the post helpful. 🙂