akin to telling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "akin to telling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when drawing a comparison or similarity between two actions or concepts, particularly in a figurative sense. Example: "His silence was akin to telling me that he disapproved of my decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Telling someone with an anxiety disorder to "calm down," is akin to telling someone with allergies to "stop sneezing". Mental illnesses are not a choice.

HuffPost

It's akin to telling a fire investigator that fires have always happened naturally in the past.

The Guardian

It's akin to telling someone, "You need a new car," and then giving the person a lemon.

The New York Times

Jumping to the premature conclusion that we don't have free will is akin to telling a person that the water's blue whereas it's colourless…….

University of California, Berkeley

This is akin to telling movie critics that films would be better if only they would pitch in behind the camera.

The Guardian

Happily, what you are doing is innocuous; it is not akin to telling your kids they're going to Disneyland and then taking them to the dentist.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"Iran calling for Syria to dialogue rather than use force against its population is akin to Silvio Berlusconi telling Charlie Sheen not to womanize," said Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who is a sharp critic of the Iranian leadership.

The New York Times

And disputing the *numbers* is akin to me telling you, "my neighbor takes down his pants and shits in my front yard every day".

Huffington Post

Unfortunately, this is akin to my telling you that if you don't do what I want, I will shoot myself in the foot - not a very credible or intelligent threat.

Huffington Post

Seeing the whereabouts and accomplishments of peers is akin to being told we're not good enough — even though the accolades of others have nothing to do with us.

Forbes

Akin was inspired to tell the story by real-life political events in Germany, and his skills as a filmmaker are such that escape from this unsettling film is not in the cards.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "akin to telling" to draw a strong parallel between two distinct actions or situations, enhancing clarity and impact in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "akin to telling" when a direct, literal comparison is more appropriate. It is best suited for figurative analogies, not factual statements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "akin to telling" functions as a comparative connector, establishing a parallel or analogy between two different actions or concepts. It helps to illustrate a point by relating it to the more universally understood act of communication, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "akin to telling" is a phrase used to draw a comparison or analogy between two actions or concepts. It's considered grammatically correct and is frequently found in news and media, as well as academic writing. Ludwig's analysis affirms its proper usage in creating impactful comparisons. While there are alternative phrases that convey similar meanings such as "similar to saying" or "comparable to stating", "akin to telling" maintains a distinctive tone, emphasizing a thoughtful comparison as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

analogous to saying

Replaces 'akin to' with 'analogous to', emphasizing a direct comparison in the act of telling.

comparable to stating

Substitutes 'akin to' with 'comparable to', highlighting the likeness in the manner of stating something.

similar to expressing

Uses 'similar to' instead of 'akin to', focusing on the resemblance in the act of expressing.

tantamount to declaring

Emphasizes the equivalence of the action to a formal declaration.

equates to remarking

Focuses on the act of equating one thing to another through a remark.

like asserting

Simplifies the comparison to a direct assertion, reducing the formality.

resembles saying

Highlights the resemblance in the act of saying something, making the comparison less formal.

is on par with informing

Indicates that the action is equivalent in importance or effect to informing someone.

mirrors the act of telling

Suggests a mirroring or close reflection of the act of telling, emphasizing the similarity in action.

is virtually the same as telling

Highlights the near identical nature of the comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "akin to telling" in a sentence?

Use "akin to telling" to compare one action to the act of telling something. For example, "His silence was "akin to telling" me he disapproved of my decision".

What can I say instead of "akin to telling"?

You can use alternatives like "similar to saying", "comparable to stating", or "analogous to saying" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "akin to telling" or "akin to say"?

"Akin to telling" is the correct phrase when you want to compare something to the act of telling. "Akin to say" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "akin to telling" and "like telling"?

"Akin to telling" is more formal and emphasizes a stronger analogy. "Like telling" is more informal and suggests a general similarity.