Return to Answer

I'd hardly say "we have symbols for everything".

The reason this is not a good idea is that the word "example" is not used in any context other than its natural language meaning; in contrast, "for all", "there exists", "implies", etc. are phrases which mathematicians want to use inside the mathematics, where the symbols $\forall$, $\exists$, $\implies$ come in handy. In fact, I (for one) generally avoid even using those symbols; I'd much prefer to write $$A=\{x\in X\mid \text{ for all }y\in Y,{\scriptsize\textit{ blah blah blah }}\ldots\}$$ as long as it isn't too unwieldly to parse.

There is no added benefit to having a symbol for "example"; using a symbol that serves no purpose other than to replace an English word, outside of the mathematical content of a discussion, just creates a barrier to understanding. I mean, if you want a symbol for "conjecture", why not have a symbol for the word "remark"? Or "conjecture"? Or "the"? Or "bibliography"?

I'd hardly say "we have symbols for everything".

The reason this is not a good idea is that the word "example" is not used in any context other than its natural language meaning; in contrast, "for all", "there exists", "implies", etc. are phrases which mathematicians want to use inside the mathematics, where the symbols $\forall$, $\exists$, $\implies$ come in handy. In fact, I (for one) generally avoid even using those symbols; I'd much prefer to write $$A=\{x\in X\mid \text{ for all }y\in Y,{\scriptsize\textit{ blah blah blah }}\ldots\}$$ as long as it isn't too unwieldly to parse.

There is no added benefit to having a symbol for "example"; using a symbol that serves no purpose other than to replace an English word, outside of the mathematical content of a discussion, just creates a barrier to understanding. I mean, if you want a symbol for "example", why not have a symbol for the word "remark"? Or "conjecture"? Or "bibliography"? Or "the"?

I'd hardly say "we have symbols for everything".

The reason this is not a good idea is that the word "example" is not used in any context other than its natural language meaning; in contrast, "for all", "there exists", "implies", etc. are phrases which mathematicians want to use inside the mathematics, where the symbols $\forall$, $\exists$, $\implies$ come in handy. In fact, I (for one) generally avoid even using those symbols; I'd much prefer to write $$A=\{x\in X\mid \text{ for all }y\in Y,{\scriptsize\textit{ blah blah blah }}\ldots\}$$ as long as it isn't too unwieldly to parse.

There is no added benefit to having a symbol for "example"; using a symbol that serves no purpose other than to replace an English word, outside of the mathematical content of a discussion, just creates a barrier to understanding.

I'd hardly say "we have symbols for everything".

The reason this is not a good idea is that the word "example" is not used in any context other than its natural language meaning; in contrast, "for all", "there exists", "implies", etc. are phrases which mathematicians want to use inside the mathematics, where the symbols $\forall$, $\exists$, $\implies$ come in handy. In fact, I (for one) generally avoid even using those symbols; I'd much prefer to write $$A=\{x\in X\mid \text{ for all }y\in Y,{\scriptsize\textit{ blah blah blah }}\ldots\}$$ as long as it isn't too unwieldly to parse.

There is no added benefit to having a symbol for "example"; using a symbol that serves no purpose other than to replace an English word, outside of the mathematical content of a discussion, just creates a barrier to understanding. I mean, if you want a symbol for "conjecture", why not have a symbol for the word "remark"? Or "conjecture"? Or "the"? Or "bibliography"?

I'd hardly say "we have symbols for everything".

The reason this is not a good idea is that the word "example" is not used in any context other than its natural language meaning; in contrast, "for all", "there exists", "implies", etc. are phrases which mathematicians want to use inside the mathematics, via the symbols $\forall$, $\exists$, $\implies$.

There is no added benefit to having a symbol for "example"; using a symbol that serves no purpose other than to replace an English word, outside of the mathematical content of a discussion, just creates a barrier to understanding.

I'd hardly say "we have symbols for everything".

The reason this is not a good idea is that the word "example" is not used in any context other than its natural language meaning; in contrast, "for all", "there exists", "implies", etc. are phrases which mathematicians want to use inside the mathematics, where the symbols $\forall$, $\exists$, $\implies$ come in handy. In fact, I (for one) generally avoid even using those symbols; I'd much prefer to write $$A=\{x\in X\mid \text{ for all }y\in Y,{\scriptsize\textit{ blah blah blah }}\ldots\}$$ as long as it isn't too unwieldly to parse.

There is no added benefit to having a symbol for "example"; using a symbol that serves no purpose other than to replace an English word, outside of the mathematical content of a discussion, just creates a barrier to understanding.