The phrase «such as» is widely used in the English language, and it is almost impossible to go a day without using or coming across it. But, using a word or a phrase frequently does not mean you know how to use it correctly. There is a lot you need to learn and this article will cover everything.
The phrase «such as» is used as an introduction to an example or series of examples of something mentioned earlier. An example depicting the use of «such as» is: You must have a form of identification, such as a national ID card or driver’s license on you when going out.
You should encounter no problem while learning how to use the phrase correctly. We will make it very simple and easy to understand, so you will not encounter any complexity. Hop in and let’s discover everything about the phrase.
What Does The Phrase «Such As» Mean?
You must not use a word or phrase without having a deep understanding of it and if you have, you should try to find out all you can about the word. You are assured of communicating effectively when you understand a word beyond the surface.
For us to achieve easy and effective communication, we will look at some essential parts of the phrase «such as,» the meaning and the origin. You should be able to use the phrase effortlessly when communicating after reading this article.
The meaning of a word refers to the idea the word conveys when used in a sentence, what the reader infers when they see the word in a sentence. The origin of a word on the other hand refers to where the word was derived from, usually a root word, which is mostly from other languages.
So, What Does The Phrase «Such As» Mean?
The phrase «such as» has a wide range of meanings. Some people refer to it as an idiomatic expression that means something or of a kind mentioned earlier.
It is also used to introduce other examples of the type of thing you just mentioned. An example would be,
- The art museum in Dallas has a lot of exquisite paintings from artists, such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Pablo Picasso.
There is another meaning to the phrase «such as,» although it is now archaic and outdated, it is good to know it. It means «those who,» an example is,
- Such as promises to engage in lawful activities not only break their promise, but they are also dangerous if they do not fulfill their promise.
From the example above explaining the last meaning of the phrase «such as,» a person that is familiar with the modern English language will find it very difficult to comprehend. If you replace the «such as» at the beginning of the sentence with «those who,» the sentence makes a lot of sense.
Next, we will dive into the etymology of the phrase «such as.»
We will look at the separate origins of the words «such» and «as,» this is because «such as» is a phrase, not a word.
The «such» is from the Middle English word «such» (also swich, swulch, swilch, and swuch), this is from an Old English word «swelċ,» gotten from the Proto-Germanic «swalīkaz.»
And the word «as» is from the Middle English word «as» (variations of the word are als(a) and alswa). This is in turn from an Old English «eallswā» a reduced form of «also.»
This is the origin of the root words of the phrase «such as.»
Synonyms and Antonyms of the Phrase «Such As»
Our next focus is on the synonyms and antonyms of the phrase «such as.» First, we will examine some synonyms of the phrase.
- For Example
- Like
- In Particular
- For Instance
- Namely
- Similar To
- Suchlike
- Including
- Akin To
- Identical To
- Resembling
- Just Like
- Exempli Gratia (e.g.)
- As An Example Of
- As In
To make it more understandable, below are some examples to show how you can use the synonyms of «such as» as an alternative in sentences.
Examples with «Such As»
- Children born in the 2010s missed the best Nickelodeon cartoon characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Avatar Aang.
- There are different consequences and motives for criminal activities, such as tax evasion, theft, and robbery.
Examples with the synonyms of «Such As»
- Children born in the 2010s missed the best Nickelodeon cartoon characters, like SpongeBob SquarePants and Avatar Aang.
- There are different consequences and motives for criminal activities, for instance, tax evasion, theft, and robbery.
On the other hand, the antonyms of the phrase «such as» are,
- Aside From
- Besides
- Except
- Apart From
- Excluding
- Leaving Out
- Exclusive Of
- Omitting
- Other Than
- Outside Of
- With The Exception Of
- Unlike
- All But
- Exempting
- But
Examples with the antonyms of «Such As»
- Jones expected to meet his room arranged but to his surprise, it had been emptied, except for his study table.
- One of the agreements David had to sign before commencing his duties in the organization was to make no deals with anyone asides from the company deals.
- Harry claimed he read all but the concluding part of the message so he could not decipher the message.
- Kane was ashamed of telling Olivia, his girlfriend that apart from changing a car tire, he had no clue of car maintenance.
These examples should show you how you can use the antonyms of the phrase «such as» in a sentence.
How To Properly Use «Such As» In A Sentence
In this session, we will look at a few tips and additional knowledge that will assist you in using the phrase «such as» in a sentence.
You use the phrase «such as» when you want to provide specific examples of something you are talking about. This means when you are talking or referring to something and you need to provide examples to explain better, you use «such as.»
Another thing you need to know when using the phrase «such as» is the accurate use of punctuation marks before and after the phrase.
You must not use a comma before the phrase «such as» if it is part of a restrictive clause. By restrictive clause, we mean if you take out the phrase the sentence does not make sense. If there is a nonrestrictive phrase, in the sentence, you must use a comma.
An example is you will find a lot of coniferous trees, such as spruce and pine in this forest. The phrase «such as spruce and pine» is nonrestrictive because if you take it out of the sentence, it still makes sense. You will find a lot of coniferous trees in this forest.
You also need to understand that if you are using examples that are not essential in making your sentence accurate and clear, you must add a comma before «such as» and also after the examples, except the example us at the end of the sentence. if the examples make your sentence clear and accurate, you can omit the commas.
We will look at situations you cannot use the phrase «such as.»
- You cannot use the phrase to compare things.
- You cannot use the word «as» on its own to introduce examples.
You should know that the phrases «such as» and «as such» are very different and cannot be used interchangeably because they do not have any similarity in meaning despite looking very similar. «As such» is used to give a reason for something but «such as» is used when giving examples to make a sentence clearer.
Illustrative Examples on how to use the phrase «Such As»
Here are some examples to simplify the explanations we have provided on how you can use the phrase «such as» correctly in a sentence.
- It is vital to remove the stalks of leafy vegetables, such as silverbeet and spinach before using them in your meal.
- Most western countries are ready to get rid of tariffs on different items such as electronics, foodstuffs, and solar panels.
- External factors, such as smoking while being pregnant is a major external factor that results in miscarriages.
- People with poor eyesight need to wear corrective lenses, such as contact lenses or eyeglasses.
- Since he received parole, he partnered with teenagers in trouble, trying to help them avoid getting into a life of crime such as he had.
- Explaining and defining abstract ideas such as friendship and love to children can be difficult and frustrating.
- The drugs prescribed for him were very effective in treating his sickness, but there were some adverse effects, such as dizziness and allergy reactions.
- The natural resources will continually deplete as long as activities such as mining and logging are still carried out.
- Different people believe their success is to be attributed to external causes such as luck and favor.
- The senator from the eastern part of the state constructed a hospital to treat emergencies such as accidents and fire burns.
With these examples, you should not find it difficult to use the phrase «such as» in your sentences.
Final Thoughts
You do not have to stress yourself out trying to figure out how to use the phrase «such as» correctly in a sentence.
All you need to do is read up and get the knowledge.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.
The term «social justice» used to be associated with words such as «equality», «compassion» and «tolerance».
RELIGION
Brainstorm commonly overused words such as good, bad, said, happy, pretty, saw, big, nice, little, etc..
EDUCATION
One is writing skills using strong words such as:
JOBS
Used common words such as said, big, small, looked, went, then etc!
EDUCATION
Past tense verbs also include words such as oversaw, overcame, ran, etc..
JOBS
Using words such as «ultimately», «marvelous» and «intrinsic» are good start.
DATING
Predominant language currently includes words such as «low carbon,» «zero carbon,» «negative carbon,» and even a «war on carbon.»
ENVIRONMENT
Then I start reading and this is pretty much an advertisement with you stating words such as «should», «I expect», «rumors», «reportedly»… etc, etc..
TECHNOLOGY
Forward-looking statements can be identified because they are not statements of historical fact and use words such as outlook, may, should, could, believe, anticipate, expect, looking ahead, focused on, estimate, forecast, goal or intend, and similar expressions that concern our strategies, plans, intentions or beliefs about future occurrences or results.
BUSINESS
The mini-convention delegates talked about what the words they were using meant — words such as «respect» and «responsibility.»
EDUCATION
While pet owners commonly used loving positive adjective to describe their companion animals, words such as «expensive» and «time consuming» are also often associated with the realities and responsibilities of owning pets — especially dogs and cats.
PETS
You could also use a code word such as «bubbles» to let your child know to stop.
PARENTING
Reuters reports that the tobacco company defendants have been battling to avoid being forced to use words such as «deceived» in the corrective statements, but lost this free speech battle before Kessler.
LAW
Finally, a third group used MACH and then saw videos of themselves accompanied by an analysis of such measures as how much they smiled, how well they maintained eye contact, how well they modulated their voices, and how often they used filler words such as «like,» «basically» and «umm.»
SCIENCE
It can be a clicker device, or a word such as «Yes» or «Nice.»)
PETS
The important difference here, which I think the article does not take into account, is that such time can be used proactively to focus on key words such as «smooth» or «powerful,» which you mention as a useful technique.
SCIENCE
Relative to Miliband’s speech, Cameron’s speech had key words such as «family» and «marriage» (used a combined 24 times by DC, compared with zero by EM), «students» (18 DC — 1 EM), and even «migrants» (15 DC — 0 EM).
POLITICS
The reactions on platforms such as twitter include words such as «traumatic» and «sad» to describe the first teaser trailer of the movie.
FOOD & BEVERAGES
Label this section «Profile» and describe your personal attributes using words such as versatile, timely, motivated, tactful and professional.
JOBS
The difference is in crafting your resume with carefully chosen words such as «created an enjoyable environment for over 1000 customers during the summer» versus «took orders and served meals».
JOBS
It will be known as Zoetis, which Pfizer said is based on the root «zo» found in animal-related words such as zoo and zoology.
PETS
Unconscious bias or discrimination You may accidentally include gender slanted words such as salesman, busboy or front desk girl.
LAW
Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as «proposed,» «will,» «enables,» «expects,» «allows,» «continues,» «believes,» «anticipates,» «estimates» or similar expressions.
BUSINESS
While I don’t have the job advertisement, or my response anymore, I am talking about simple words such as «person», «inside», «require», «distance» — I think you get the idea.
JOBS
She also missed several basic sight words such as «pat,» «then,» «jump,» «mother» and «father.»
EDUCATION
If you are applying for a sales job, then your employer may search for key word such as manufacturers, representative etc, if they require find candidates who have experience with their products or selling on behalf of manufacturing firms.
JOBS
I’m not usually a fan of using words such as «ultimate,» «amazing» or «best ever» in a review.
TRAVEL
The thought-provoker We’ve seen a lot of bedrooms with words such as «cosy», «love» or «dream», but this is a motivating quote if ever there was one!
HOUSE & HOME
However, it is difficult to say how this provision could be made more certain; any synonym for «significant» will be as uncertain because words such as significant or substantial or major or considerable describe the degree of interference or damage.
LAW
Careless spelling mistakes (the most commonly misspelled words are simple words such as «and» «planned» and «materials»)
JOBS
Interviews were identified by browsing roughly 60,000 lines of text in these schedules then attempting to find appearances that might have been missed by searching for hosts» names and words such as «tapes,» «interview,» and «show;» given the large amount of information contained in the schedules, however, it’s possible that a few were missed and thus excluded.
POLITICS
To begin, try using a hand signal every time you use common words such as «book» (open your palms with your hands together) or «hungry» (put your fingers to your lips).
PARENTING
Short of the End Time, even among people of the best will (and it will never be that everybody will be of the best will), there will be different and frequently conflicting understandings of moral truth and the common good — and, increasingly, there is disagreement over what might be meant by words such as «truth» and «good.»
RELIGION
If you see words such as whole wheat, 100 % whole wheat, whole oats, etc., the food contains whole grain.
FOOD & BEVERAGES
If we use some other word such as «skeptic» or «inactivist» you’ll still find some other excuse to whine.
ENVIRONMENT
If words such as family, strength and honour catch your attention, Yakuza 5 is one game to offer them in spades.
GAMING
When managers are asked about their inattention to employees, they try to excuse themselves, using words such as «trust,» «autonomy,» and «empowerment.»
BUSINESS
The Roadster Blaze Edition takes its name from related words such as «sparkle,» «blinding light,» and «fiery color,» and the images they evoke.
AUTOMOBILES
For instance, if you are looking for a marketing or sales position, words such as account management, marketing analysis or contract negotiation might attract attention as well as marketing executive or senior sales manager.
JOBS
However, what strikes me when I read the New York State curriculum is how often words such as exemplar and sample appear in the document.
EDUCATION
They found that articles linking the Common Core with words such as «controversy» and «federal» skyrocketed in 2012.
EDUCATION
«Web 2.0» was running in competition alongside other contemporary words such as «slumdog», «Jai Ho!»
GAMING
Has the vocabulary required to follow your instructions — i.e. understands words such as potty, toilet, wet, dry, underwear, «big girl» etc..
PARENTING
And you use words such as «probably» and» likely» etc. which shows excellent understanding.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Use British English ONLY in your Australian Resume — words such as «specialise» and «realise» need to be spelled with an «s» not a «z».
JOBS
Using action verbs strengthens your letter just like the professional EMT cover letter sample, so consider including words such as provided, coordinated, listened, evaluated, explained, assessed, transported, reported, documented, and responded.
JOBS
Midkemma isn’t it enough to put forward your quite well reasoned response to jon fox without using emotive words such as «stupid», referring to old age and suggesting people see medical professionals.
SPORTS
«Use power words such as «achieved», «acquired» and «attained» to make your statements stronger, more believable and powerful,» says Michelle Bowden, a presentation skills trainer.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Other approaches include using new terms for words such as «denominator» such as «the name of the fraction,» so students understand why they can’t add or subtract fractions with different denominators.
EDUCATION
Perhaps as Canadians the way that we can determine if a matter is more about politics than pure justice, is when the definition of relatively common words such as: «innovation» or «office» is seen to be as confusing to those who need to interpret these words to their benefit, as the meaning of the word «lie» can be — when someone has been caught in one.
REAL_ESTATE
1 Avoid unhealthy foods such as hamburger and chips.
2 Many polymers, such as nylon, are artificial.
3 Playing together teaches children social conventions such as sharing.
4 Some students enter other professions such as arts administration.
5 LiChou away gradually, such as at continuously infinite.
6 They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.
7 The wind such as flower of time, and you become the most beautiful ornament.
8 America wants to eliminate tariffs on items such as electronics.
9 Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare.
10 The end of the summer, the who. Memory such as a line, who stumbled.
11 Idle such as vinegar, can soften the spirit of the calcareous; diligent like alcohol, can burn the flame of wisdom.
12 His faith that men such as the Reverend John Leale tried to do their best is unshaken.
13 The risk of infection is confined to groups such as medical personnel.
14 Several offences such as manslaughter may be committed by omission.
15 You’re welcome to borrow my tennis racket,[www.Sentencedict.com] such as it is.
16 They were made to listen to white noise, such as static of the sort you might pick up between radio stations.
17 Some strong alcoholic drinks such as whisky are made by distilling.
18 The hospital has to treat emergencies such as car accidents.
19 The emergency building is transported in individual modules, such as bedrooms and a kitchen, which are put together on site.
20 Every kind of peaceful cooperation among men is primarily based on mutual trust and only secondly on institutions such as courts of justice and police. 
21 You have to have proof of residence in the state of Texas, such as a Texas ID card.
22 Low birth weight may be caused by external factors , such as smoking during pregnancy.
23 The celebration’s is a time for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. It is done so by different practices such as hanging healthy herbs on the front door, drinking nutritious concoctions, and displaying portraits of evil’s nemesis, Chung Kuei. If one manages to stand an egg on it’s end at exactly 12:00 noon, the following year will be a lucky one.
24 When you download the font it may be in a compressed format, such as a zip file.
25 Women tend to attribute their success to external causes such as luck.
26 The company has made considerable savings through good housekeeping, such as avoiding wastage.
27 Books on bridges should be listed under «bridges» and not under a broader heading such as «engineering».
28 Think of had to meet, like very dizzy, when the mind change, such as gone.
29 They have pledged to end racial discrimination in areas such as employment.
30 Think of had to meet, like very dizzy, when the mind change, such as.
We use “such as” to give a list of examples of something we say.
Example:
Mark: What kind of music do you like?
Andrew: I like groups such as Radiohead, New order, Placebo and REM.
The words after “such as” are the examples of groups that I like. If there are several examples, we separate them with commas. We separate the last example with “and”.
More examples:
The shop sells computer parts such as keyboards, screens and disk drives.
Actors such as Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise have made lots of films.
Websites such as facebook and twitter are very popular.
In big cities such as London and Tokyo, accommodation is very expensive.
“such as?” – Short questions
We can ask the short question “Such as?” to ask someone to give us some examples. This is common in spoken English. The person answering the question will often start the sentence with “Such as” and then give the list of examples.
Examples:
Mark: “There are many countries I would like to visit.”
Jane: “Such as?”
Mark: “Such as Spain, Italy and Egypt.”
(Jane is asking Mark to give examples of countries that he would like to visit.)
Doctor: Drinking alcohol can cause many health problems.
Jane: Such as?
Doctor: Such as cancer and liver disease.
(When Jane asks “Such as?”, she is asking the doctor to give her examples of health problems cause by alcohol.)
Other English lessons and tutorials
Common English proverbs
ADVICE or ADVISE – The differences
Personal pronouns in English
GOING TO – English future tense
Private online English lessons
IELTS online course and writing corrections
Video lesson about “such as”
Updated October 2022: Let’s face it, punctuation is not easy. For example, do you need a comma with the phrase such as? Well, the answer is… sometimes. Place a comma in front of such as only if you’re using it as part of a nonrestrictive clause. A nonrestrictive clause adds additional information to a sentence. This added information It is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Proper Use of a Comma Before Such As
The sentence below shows how to correctly use a comma with such as:
In this zoo, you’ll see many types of animals, such as lions, tigers, penguins and bears.
The phrase such as lions, tigers, penguins and bears is nonrestrictive, so a comma is needed. What does nonrestrictive mean? As our graphic above states, it means the sentence is still true even if you can take the phrase out of it: In this zoo, you’ll see many types of animals.
Proper Use of Such As Without a Comma
A comma is not needed when such as is part of a restrictive clause.
Animals such as lions and bears cannot be domesticated.
In this sentence, “such as lions and bears” is a restrictive phrase. You can test it by trying to take it out of the sentence: Animals cannot be domesticated. The sentence is no longer true.
Examples of Such As in Sentences
Such as is used in a sentence to give specific examples of what you’re talking about. If those examples aren’t essential to the truth of your statement, then use a comma before such as. You will also need to put a comma after the example unless it is at the very end of the sentence.
Earth tones, such as orange and red, look good on you.
We only go out to eat on special occasions, such as birthdays.
Take the commas out if the examples are essential to the meaning of your sentence.
Foods such as fruits and vegetables will help your body stay healthy.
I would like to work in an industry such as hospitality or education.
Further reading:
Is There A Comma Before “Which?”
How To Punctuate The Word “Since”
Using A Comma In Front of While