by way of an example

[alpacinou]

Hello.

Can I use "by way of an example" instead of "for example" in international writing tests such as TOEFL?

There are some actions that ought to be done by states. For example, governments can levy a tax on factories that emit excessive amounts of greenhouse gases.

There are some actions that ought to be done by states. By way of an example, governments can levy a tax on factories that emit excessive amounts of greenhouse gases.

 

[tedmc]

Yes, but it is not as natural as "for example".

 

[Rover_KE]

Using four syllables when one would be more natural doesn't go down well with examiners, who are busy people and will suspect you're padding out your text to reach a stipulated word count.

 

[alpacinou]

But is correct and natural, generally speaking? I mean if I used it in a scientific essay, would that be weird?

Can it be used in formal context? Because I can sense that it is not appropriate for everyday conversations.

 

[SoothingDave]

If you're going to use it, there is no article. By way of example...

 

[tedmc]

Some examples can be found here.