What Does "such as" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "Such as" is a prepositional phrase used for exemplification. It introduces specific instances that belong to a broader category mentioned previously.
- Typical sentence position: Most commonly used in the medial position to link a category to its examples, but it can appear in the initial position in fragment-style dialogue or headers.
- Register: It is generally neutral to formal. While common in speech, it is the preferred choice over "like" in academic and professional writing.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: It is typically preceded by a plural noun (the category) and followed by a noun or a list of nouns (the examples). For example: "Fruit, such as apples and oranges."
- Punctuation rules: If the examples are non-restrictive (extra information), use a comma before "such as". If the examples are restrictive (essential to the meaning), no comma is needed. Never place a comma immediately after "such as".
- Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence in conversational shorthand or Q&A contexts, though this is rare in formal prose. It cannot be easily negated (e.g., one would use "other than" or "excluding" instead).
- What sounds unnatural: Placing "such as" at the very end of a sentence without any following nouns is grammatically incomplete and sounds incorrect.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from such as on Ludwig.guru.
"Firms such as D.E." — economist.com
"Places such as Beckton." — independent.co.uk
"Such as Apple, perhaps?" — economist.com
"Such as alcohol." — economist.com
"such as baseball and football.Mr." — economist.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| including |
Suggests the examples are part of a larger, non-exhaustive group. |
| for instance |
Used to introduce a specific case to support an argument; often set off by commas. |
| namely |
Used when providing a complete list of all items in a category. |
| like |
More informal; often used in casual speech to compare or list. |
| specifically |
Used to narrow down focus to a precise detail or example. |
| e.g. |
Latin abbreviation (exempli gratia) used primarily in formal written shorthand. |
Common Mistakes
- The "After-Comma" Error: Learners often incorrectly place a comma immediately after 'such as' before listing items, which interrupts the phrase's flow. The correct way is to have no punctuation between the phrase and the first example.
- Like vs. Such As: In formal writing, 'such as' is preferred for identifying specific subsets of a group, whereas 'like' is often reserved for comparisons (though this distinction is fading in modern usage).
- Fragmented Lists: Starting a new sentence with 'such as' in formal essays is usually considered a fragment error; it should be attached to the preceding sentence with a comma.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| such as |
Exemplification |
Neutral/Formal |
Medial |
FAQs
Can I start a sentence with such as
In formal writing, starting a sentence with such as is usually avoided because it creates a sentence fragment. However, in journalism or fiction, it can be used for stylistic emphasis or to answer a direct question. Generally, it should follow a comma and remain part of the sentence containing the main category.
What is the difference between such as and like
While often used interchangeably, such as is preferred in formal contexts to introduce specific examples of a category. Like is more informal and technically suggests a comparison (things similar to the category) rather than direct inclusion. In academic writing, stick to such as to ensure clarity and professional tone.
Where should I place commas when using this phrase
Learners often incorrectly place a comma immediately after 'such as' before listing items, but the comma should only appear before the phrase if the information is non-essential. If the list is necessary to identify the noun, no comma is used at all. Confusion with 'like' in formal writing is also common, where 'such as' is the superior choice for defining subsets.