can someone please specify the difference between: illustrating an example and describing an example?

I’d say that, when describing you explain only the info required. eg. Describe how I got to 4 – well I added 1 and 3. and when Illustrating an example I would say – well I had one apple and then I was given another three apples, therefore I then had one and three apples equalling 4 apples all together. It paints a clearer picture or illustration…

My understanding of this is that illustrating is drawing it out in some way to explain and describing is using words to explain the example.

“An illustrator is a graphic artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text.

The illustration may be intended to clarify complicated concepts or objects that are difficult to describe textually…”

the basic difference, therefore, lies in the ‘description process’. description is textual, done with words that do not conjure up images. illustration is a type of description that uses images/imagery (verbal or actual).

illustrating an example says that you are going to gesticulate or do some actions and demonstrations that expresses the example while describing an example only uses your words and observations(only by saying) about the example.

You can describe what someting is like by using only words and without using any pictures, improvisations, sounds or diagrams; illustrating does involve use of these things.

Illustrate doesn’t have to mean ‘draw’. It can also mean the same as ‘describe’, i.e. to make clear/explain, giving examples. See Dictionary.com for a definition.

Both are forms of providing further explanation. Illustration is doing it visually, and describing is verbally.