almost alike

USAGE SUMMARY

'almost alike' is a correct and usable phrase to use in written English.
You can use it when comparison is being made between two things that have a few differences. For example: Although they look different, these two cars are almost alike in terms of their features.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The dads, Detective Tom Adkins Jon Hammm), whose 10-year-old son is snatched outside a diner on the Fourth of July 2000, and Matthew Wakefield Josh Lucass), whose boy is abducted from a car in 1958 while Matthew is having a stand-up quickie with a floozy, are photographed to look almost alike.

The New York Times

However, the other softwares behave almost alike.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Rodrigo and Frederico are two twins almost alike.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

It is easy to observe that the two figures are almost alike.

Boundary Value Problems

The experimental blocks and the plots were located on similar terrain, parallel orientations and also shade conditions too that were almost alike.

Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Finally, we found that stiffness during pivoting was almost alike in all three groups (approximately 0.0056-0.0062 (Nm/deg/deg), which was quite surprising.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

By Clinton & Russell, they are almost exactly alike.

The New York Times

They all wound up sounding almost exactly alike.

The New York Times

He said that the atmosphere in college and professional locker rooms was almost exactly alike.

The Guardian - Sport

However, the twins' ultimately disillusioned lovers, Jerry Hadley as Ferrando and Thomas Hampson as Guglielmo, also are costumed almost exactly alike, so the knife cuts both ways.

The New York Times - Arts

This is something to consider if you're managing people who fall into both camps, because they're almost nothing alike.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost alike" when you want to convey that two things share many similarities but are not completely identical. For instance, "The twins are almost alike, but one has a mole on their left cheek."

Common error

Avoid using "almost alike" when referring to things that are markedly different. It's not suitable for describing objects that only share a few traits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost alike" functions as a qualifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that the entities being described share many similarities but are not entirely identical. Ludwig confirms the correct usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

6%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost alike" is a common and correct adjective phrase used to describe entities that share significant similarities but are not identical. According to Ludwig, the phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is appropriate across various contexts, including science and news media. When using "almost alike", ensure you are accurately portraying the degree of similarity and avoiding overstatement. Alternatives like "nearly identical" or "virtually the same" may be suitable depending on the desired nuance. With the guidelines and examples provided, you can confidently use "almost alike" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly identical

Emphasizes a very small degree of difference between the compared subjects.

virtually the same

Highlights that differences are insignificant or negligible.

practically equivalent

Focuses on the functional similarity despite any minor variances.

much the same

Indicates a general similarity without necessarily implying near-identity.

closely resemble each other

Highlights the visual or superficial likeness between two things.

bear a strong resemblance

Stresses a recognizable similarity, often visual.

similar in many respects

Focuses on the similarities in various aspects.

comparable to

Suggests similarities sufficient for comparison.

not unlike

Indicates a resemblance without being strongly affirmative.

akin to

Suggests a connection or similarity in nature or quality.

FAQs

How can I use "almost alike" in a sentence?

You can use "almost alike" to describe two or more things that are very similar, but not completely identical. For example: "The two paintings were "almost alike", but there were subtle differences in color."

What are some alternatives to "almost alike"?

Some alternatives to "almost alike" include "nearly identical", "virtually the same", or "much the same". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "almost alike" or should I use "almost the same"?

Both "almost alike" and "almost the same" are correct and commonly used. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or the specific context. "Almost alike" tends to emphasize a resemblance in appearance or nature, while "almost the same" can refer to any attribute.

What's the difference between "almost alike" and "exactly alike"?

"Almost alike" suggests a high degree of similarity with some differences, while "exactly alike" implies complete and total sameness. Using "exactly alike" means there are no discernible differences.