Cool MateFor instance vs Like
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
For instance
Top 2,000 (common)
Like
High-frequency chunkA1preposition
Most common: Like
| For instance | Like | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fɔːr ˈɪn.stəns//🇺🇸 //fɔr ˈɪn.stəns// | 🇬🇧 /["/laɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/laɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | For example | to enjoy or be pleased by something |
| Example | You can learn a lot from books, for instance, history books. | I like chocolate ice cream. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | preposition | |
| Collocations | for instance, consider, for instance, look at, for instance, such as, for instance, you might, for instance, this includes | like to eat, like a friend, like doing, like music, like the weather |
| Antonyms | - | dislike, hate, detest |
| Common mistakes | 'For instance' is often confused with 'for example', but both are acceptable., Learners sometimes omit commas before or after 'for instance'., Use with complete sentences; avoid fragments. | Omitting the object, e.g. 'I like' instead of 'I like pizza'., Using 'like' in place of 'such as' when giving examples., Confusing 'like' with 'as' in comparative sentences. |
| Usage notes | Use 'for instance' to introduce examples in writing or speech. It's versatile but may sound more formal than 'for example'. Avoid using it in casual texts. | Used to express enjoyment or preference. Can be informal in casual conversations, but it's also suitable for formal situations. Avoid using in very formal writing or speeches. |
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Frequently asked questions: For instance vs Like
What's the difference between For instance and Like?
For instance: For example Like: to enjoy or be pleased by something
Which is more common: For instance and Like?
Like is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
For instance: You can learn a lot from books, for instance, history books. Like: I like chocolate ice cream.
Can I use For instance and Like interchangeably?
Not always. For instance and Like are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.