The short answer
The standard phrase is case in point, not case and point. Case in point means an example that proves or illustrates the statement just made. Case and point is an eggcorn, a mishearing that swaps 'in' for 'and' because the two sound similar when spoken quickly. In formal or professional writing, always use case in point rather than the altered version.
Spelling and grammar checkers do not always flag case and point, since 'and' and 'point' are both correctly spelled words. That means the mistake can slip into emails, reports, and articles unnoticed. Reading the phrase closely and remembering its meaning, an example directly relevant to the point, is the surest way to avoid the error.
What case in point means
Case in point introduces a specific example that supports a broader claim. The 'case' is an instance or situation, and it stands 'in point,' meaning directly relevant to what was just said. Writers use the phrase to move from a general statement to concrete evidence, signaling that the example was chosen deliberately to prove the point, not tossed in at random.
The phrase usually appears at the end of a sentence or as its own short sentence, right after the claim it supports. It works in speech and in writing, and it fits both formal reports and everyday conversation. Because it signals 'here is proof,' it helps readers or listeners follow the logic of an argument without extra transition words.
Why case and point is wrong
Case and point suggests two separate things, a case plus a point, joined by 'and.' But the phrase does not describe two items; it describes one example that serves as proof. Correct: 'Not every meeting needs to run an hour; today's stand-up is a case in point.' Not: 'Today's stand-up is a case and point,' which breaks the original meaning by implying an unrelated addition.
Case in point in a sentence
Correct: 'Local businesses often struggle after a highway bypass opens; the empty shops on Main Street are a case in point.' Correct: 'She argued that the policy was outdated, offering last year's failed rollout as a case in point.' These sentences work because the example directly proves the claim made just before it, which is exactly what the phrase promises to do.
Remember it
Think of 'in point' as short for the old phrase 'in point of fact,' meaning relevant here. If you can replace the phrase with 'for example' or 'as proof,' you want case in point. Picturing the word 'in' as an arrow pointing straight at the example can help you keep the spelling straight and avoid the and mistake.
Similar phrases to avoid confusing
Case in point is sometimes confused with the unrelated phrase 'beside the point,' which means an idea is irrelevant rather than illustrative. The two phrases are almost opposites: one signals proof, and the other signals a detour from the main argument. Keeping their meanings separate will also help you remember that case in point always introduces support, never a distraction.
Frequently asked questions
Is case and point ever correct?
No. Case and point is a common misspelling of case in point and is not accepted in standard or formal English.
What does case in point mean?
It introduces an example that directly illustrates or proves a statement that was just made.
Where does the phrase case in point come from?
It comes from the older phrase 'in point,' meaning relevant or applicable, which was later shortened into everyday use as case in point.
Try it with a real collection
Explore academic vocabulary or print a Frayer model to put these ideas into practice.