An instance is a case or example: for instance means “for example”, and an instance of cheating is a case of cheating. In programming, an instance is a running copy of a program or server. But an official body you complain to is an authority: complain to the authorities. Legal English does have court of first instance, but in everyday speech instance never means an organisation or a level of government, although similar words, such as German Instanz or French instance, can.
instance: will you get the meaning right?
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for instance; in this/that instance; an instance of + noun; (IT) run/launch an instance of + app/server
- Some words are hard to translate — take 'cosy', for instance.
- There were several instances of students copying answers during the online test.
- Our team launched a second instance of the app to handle the extra traffic.
What changed
First versionI complained to several instances, but nobody fixed the road.
RevisionI complained to several authorities, but nobody fixed the road.
A native speaker will read several instances as “several cases”, and it's unclear whom you complained to. Complaining to the bodies responsible for a problem is complaining to the authorities. Only that word was changed.
For instance and for example mean the same, but for example is noticeably more common. In this instance is a more formal version of in this case: In this case, we'll wait sounds like everyday speech, while In this instance, we will wait sounds like a line from a business letter.
Your turn
If the school ignores your complaint, take it to a higher ___.
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authority — A higher authority is the body above, where you take a complaint next. A native speaker wouldn't say higher instance: an instance is a case or example, not a level of power.
Write about a rule at school, at work or at home that people often break. Give one specific case using for instance.
Our office has a rule to wash your own cup, but people often ignore it. For instance, last Monday there were twelve dirty cups in the sink.
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