[Grammar] "say for example"

[nelson13]

When I was hearing a lecture last week at my university, I heard 4 times: say for example.

But haven't SAY and FOR EXAMPLE the same meaning? For native speakers of English, would you use such a phrase?

 

[Odessa Dawn]

[STRIKE]When [/STRIKE]While I was [STRIKE]hearing [/STRIKE] listening to a lecture last week at my university, I heard 4 times: say for example.

But haven't SAY and FOR EXAMPLE the same meaning? For native speakers of English, would you use such a phrase?

***NOT A TEACHER***

 

[emsr2d2]

You will hear it a lot but it's tautological. In an ideal world, the lecturer should have chosen either "say" or "for example". However, the following construction is OK - "Let's say, for example, that I have been chosen to go into space". In that case "Let's say" means "Let's pretend" or "Let's imagine".

 

[nelson13]

Thank you for your correction.

So do you think HEAR in this case should not be used in the progressive tense?

 

[Odessa Dawn]

​

So do you think HEAR in this case should not be used in the progressive tense?

***NOT A TEACHER***

Yes, I do.

An English-Zone.Com Chart: Progressive and Non-Progressive Verbs

Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

 

[nelson13]

Thank you.

 

[BobK]

You 'listen to', 'go to', or 'attend' a lecture, unless you're the lecturer (who 'gives it'). But in the context of your original post, I think 'listening to' is a bit excessive [as if you wanted to make it clear that you were actually listening, and not making paper aeroplanes ;-)]. You could just say something like 'I was at a lecture last week, and the lecturer kept saying ...'.

b