can be dissimilar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be dissimilar" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two or more things may not be alike or may differ from each other. Example: "The results of the experiments can be dissimilar due to variations in environmental conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

As pointed out by Shanmugasundaram et al. [16] molecules that are similar in one representation can be dissimilar in another.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Therefore, it seems plausible to hypothesise that the multiple mechanisms of action may have different roles in different tumours, and thus the determinants of the drug action can be dissimilar in the diverse contexts.

British Journal of Cancer

However, constrained by resources, experiments are often conducted at small spatiotemporal scales (e.g. looking at a plot of a few square metres over a few years) and at low organizational levels (looking at organisms rather than ecosystems) in spite of both theoretical and experimental work that suggests ecological dynamics across scales can be dissimilar.

AoB PLANTS

These results suggest that targets of promiscuous drugs can be dissimilar, implying that only a small part of each target is related with the principle of polypharmacology.

Plosone

Modules in genomic data can be dissimilar: they can vary greatly in size, in internal cohesion (how 'related' two genes within a module are) and external isolation (how 'unrelated' the genes in the module are to genes in other modules).

Plosone

Therefore, the functions of plant miRNAs can be dissimilar even if they share a high degree of sequence similarity and belong to the same family [ 30].

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

These backup systems can be sufficiently dissimilar that they do not respond to a highly selective drug [8 11].

Journal of Cheminformatics

This was required since the inference and validation sets can be very dissimilar, which leads to low values of the max average AUC.

BMC Systems Biology

This is most likely due to the nature of TEs which have a complex evolutionary history within a single species' genome, where related sequences within salmonid genomes can be more dissimilar to candidate TEs than similar sequences from other species.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Taken together, the discrepancies among pipelines show that pipelines differ in the sets of genes they cover, and the annotation of the same genes in different pipelines can be quite dissimilar.

BMC Plant Biology

Graph clustering concerns finding for a graph similar vertices that can be arranged in dissimilar groups.

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can be dissimilar" to introduce nuance, implying a potential for difference rather than stating a definite divergence.

Common error

Avoid using "can be dissimilar" when a stronger statement of difference is more appropriate. If the items are definitively different, use alternatives like "are different" or "contrast sharply."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be dissimilar" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It expresses a potential or possibility for two or more entities or concepts to exhibit differences. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be dissimilar" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey the possibility of differences between two or more entities. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly observed within scientific and analytical writing, its register tends toward formal and neutral tones. For scenarios demanding variations in expression, alternatives such as "may differ", "can vary", or "might not be the same" offer nuanced options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may not be the same

Replaces "can be dissimilar" with a more straightforward expression of difference.

might differ

Uses a more concise verb to convey the possibility of dissimilarity.

can diverge

Emphasizes the act of moving apart or becoming different.

may vary significantly

Highlights the degree of difference that can exist.

can be unlike each other

Adds emphasis on the relationship between the items being compared.

can show differences

Focuses on the manifestation of dissimilarity.

might present contrasts

Emphasizes the presence of opposing qualities.

can deviate

Highlights a departure from a standard or expected form.

can manifest variations

Focuses on the observable differences that can occur.

might not align

Suggests a lack of agreement or correspondence.

FAQs

How can I use "can be dissimilar" in a sentence?

Use "can be dissimilar" to indicate that two or more things might not be alike. For example, "The results of the two studies "can be dissimilar" due to different methodologies."

What's the difference between "can be dissimilar" and "are different"?

"Can be dissimilar" suggests a possibility or potential for difference, while "are different" states a definite fact. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the degree of difference you want to convey.

What can I say instead of "can be dissimilar"?

You can use alternatives like "may differ", "can vary", or "might not be the same" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "can be highly dissimilar"?

Yes, "can be highly dissimilar" is grammatically correct and emphasizes a significant degree of difference. It's suitable when the items being compared have notably contrasting characteristics.