be as equal as

USAGE SUMMARY

"be as equal as" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that two things should be seen as being the same. For example: "We should all be as equal as possible when it comes to our rights and liberties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Access to justice has to be as equal as possible.

The Guardian

In other words, everybody should be as equal as possible.

The Guardian - Sport

Yes, all things should be as equal as possible.

The New York Times - Sports

We used to be as equal as a place like Sweden, but that has changed dramatically in the past few years.

The Guardian

I'm a libertarian, but my biggest issue with early childhood education is that you want to have people to be as equal as possible when they start off.

TechCrunch

Depending on the numbers of rows and columns, the requirements for optimality can be decidedly counterintuitive: replication numbers need not be as equal as possible, and trace of the information matrix need not be maximal.

Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Or is it your courage when you stood alone, 1,400 years ago, in a world that had enslaved Africans and weakened the position of the women, the children, the elderly and the poor, and you announced to everyone that human beings are as equal as the teeth of a comb?

Huffington Post

ONE of the original attractions of Islam was its emphasis on equality, that all people are "as equal as the teeth of a comb" in the words of its prophet, Muhammad.

The Economist

Cuba is a true dictatorship, but women are as equal as in Iraq or even more so.

The New York Times

The CIELUV chromaticity diagram was employed to verify the subjectively generated scale and to ensure that the differences in hue between the 16 steps was as equal as possible.

Image and Vision Computing

Care should then be taken to ensure that for a hybrid PV/diesel system, the PV rated power connected to each phase of the diesel generator is as equal as possible.

International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advocating for fairness, use "be as equal as" to emphasize the need for equivalent treatment, especially in contexts where disparities exist. For example: "The legal system should strive to "be as equal as" possible for all citizens regardless of their background."

Common error

Avoid using "be as equal as" when you actually mean 'equitable'. Equality implies sameness, whereas equity acknowledges that different people may need different levels of support to achieve similar outcomes. For example, instead of saying 'All students should "be as equal as" in resources', consider 'All students should have equitable access to resources'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be as equal as" functions as a comparative structure used to express a desired state of equality between two or more entities. Ludwig provides examples where it emphasizes fairness and equivalent treatment. It is a common way to express a commitment to equality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be as equal as" serves to advocate for equivalent treatment or conditions. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and common in various contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. While "be as equal as" emphasizes sameness, it's crucial to consider whether equity—accommodating different needs—might be more appropriate. Ludwig's examples highlight its use in promoting fairness and justice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be as equitable as

Emphasizes fairness and impartiality in distribution or treatment, shifting the focus from identicality to justness.

be as egalitarian as

Highlights the principle of equal rights and opportunities, stressing a social or political ideal of equality.

be as uniform as

Stresses sameness in appearance or characteristics, moving away from abstract equality to concrete similarity.

be as identical as

Focuses on being exactly alike in every detail, emphasizing complete correspondence rather than fairness.

be as comparable as

Highlights the degree to which items can be fairly compared due to shared qualities, rather than absolute equality.

be as alike as

Indicates similarity in nature or quality, but allows for some degree of difference.

be as equivalent as

Stresses functional or practical equivalence, suggesting that things serve the same purpose or have the same effect.

be as balanced as

Implies a state of equilibrium and proportional equality, rather than strict uniformity.

be as matched as

Highlights similarity through being paired together appropriately, focusing on compatibility and correspondence.

be as symmetrical as

Focuses on equality of form and arrangement on opposite sides of a dividing line or point.

FAQs

How can I use "be as equal as" in a sentence?

Use "be as equal as" to express the idea that things or people should have the same status, rights, or opportunities. For example, "In a just society, all citizens should "be as equal as" under the law".

What is a good alternative to "be as equal as"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "be as equitable as", "be as alike as", or "be as identical as" to convey similar meanings. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to express.

Is it always appropriate to aim for things to "be as equal as" possible?

While striving for equality is often a noble goal, it's important to consider whether strict equality is always desirable or achievable. In some cases, equity—where different needs are accommodated—may be a more appropriate aim. Therefore, always assess whether aiming for things to "be as equitable as" would be better.

What's the difference between "be as equal as" and "be as fair as"?

"Be as equal as" implies sameness in treatment or status, whereas "be as fair as" suggests impartiality and justice. Fairness involves considering individual circumstances, while equality focuses on treating everyone the same. Aiming for fairness may sometimes mean not treating everyone as being precisely the same. Aiming for "be as equitable as" may be appropriate.