be as variable as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be as variable as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that can change or vary significantly in comparison to another thing. Example: "The weather in this region can be as variable as the stock market, changing from sunny to stormy in a matter of hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

(Cool, in fact, seems to be as variable as weather).

The New York Times - Books

Instead, therefore, of saying that the liability for negligence should be co-extensive with the judgment of each individual, which would be as variable as the length of the foot of each individual, we ought rather to adhere to the rule which requires in all cases a regard to caution such as a man of ordinary prudence would observe.

Harvard University

Indeed, the mechanisms contributing to the progression of the disease may be as variable as the disease itself.

Acta neuropathologica communications

In contrast with the SAM/SAH binding site which is conserved among all SAM-dependent OMTs [ 14], the residues neighboring the other substrate binding site may be as variable as the compounds preferred by their OMTs [ 3].

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It's as variable as life and nature are".

The New Yorker

Weather in England is as variable as the topography.

Britannica

Such positions are as variable as the strategies they promote.

Harvard Business Review

Wolf behavior is frustrating to study because everybody wants to categorize, and wolves are as variable as people.

The New York Times - Science

Human fortune, she writes, is as variable as the weather at sea, where "fair winds swiftly follow harsh gales".

The New Yorker

Mood and feeling are as variable as the last kiss we got.

The New Yorker

This implies that intra-morphotype δ13C is as variable as inter-morphotype δ13C, a result that is in line with previous studies highlighting the complex controls on stable isotopic carbon in foraminifera30,31.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be as variable as", ensure that the comparison is clear and that the reader understands what is being compared in terms of variability. For example, "His mood can be as variable as the weather" clearly indicates that his mood changes as often and unpredictably as the weather.

Common error

Avoid comparing abstract concepts to concrete things without proper context. For instance, saying "The concept is as variable as water" is confusing without further explanation of what aspect of "water" is being used for comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be as variable as" serves as a comparative expression, indicating that one thing has a similar degree of variability or changeability as another. Ludwig AI examples confirm its use in comparing the extent of variation between different subjects, such as weather, human behavior, or scientific measurements.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the expression "be as variable as" effectively compares the degree of variability between two subjects. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and, while relatively rare, appears in diverse contexts including science, news and media, and academia. The phrase conveys the idea that both subjects share a quality of being changeable or unpredictable. When using "be as variable as", it's important to ensure that the comparison is clear and that the concept being used for comparison is easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be as changeable as

Focuses more directly on the characteristic of being subject to change.

be as unpredictable as

Highlights the difficulty in foreseeing or anticipating the behavior.

be as fluctuating as

Emphasizes the up-and-down movement or oscillation.

be as inconsistent as

Indicates a lack of uniformity or regularity.

vary as much as

Uses a different grammatical structure to convey the same idea of variation.

be subject to as much variation as

More formal and emphasizes the 'variation' as a process

exhibit as much diversity as

Focuses on the range of different forms or qualities present.

be as mutable as

Highlights the ability to be altered or transformed, often rapidly.

be as erratic as

Emphasizes the unpredictable and often unstable nature.

have the same degree of variability as

More formal and explicitly states the equivalence in the degree of variability.

FAQs

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

Use "be as variable as" to compare the degree of changeability or inconsistency between two subjects. For example, "The stock market can "be as variable as" the weather."

What are some alternatives to "be as variable as"?

You can use alternatives such as "be as changeable as", "be as unpredictable as", or "fluctuate as much as" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "be as variable as"?

Yes, "be as variable as" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard comparative structure "as + adjective + as" to indicate that two things have a similar degree of variability.

What's the difference between "be as variable as" and "vary as much as"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, ""be as variable as"" is a direct comparison of variability, while "vary as much as" emphasizes the action of varying and the extent of that variation.