equivalents

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "equivalents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe items that are equal or nearly equal in value, amount, or function. For example: "We need to find suitable equivalents for our outdated products."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More than 97% of those surveyed had either GCSEs, A-levels or their equivalents.

The Guardian

England's top three bowlers, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, took 70 wickets between them, each at under 30 runs apiece, while their Australian equivalents managed 52.

The Guardian - Sport

Where the demonstrators around Westminster smashed the windows of key government buildings, and later businesses in Oxford Street, their Irish equivalents in Dublin beat drums and blew horns and whistles outside Dail Eireann in Kildare Street.

The Guardian

The government has been trying for years to train and recruit more – 3,400 whole-time equivalents by 2012, to be precise.

The Guardian

And while Moyles has seemed to thrive on scraps with rival hosts during his time in the chair – most notably with his equivalents at Radio 2, Chris Evans and Terry Wogan, of whom Moyles once said "I'll tear that wig off his head and shove it up his arse" – he was never going to be able to argue himself younger.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Smith does have prior form: earlier this year he produced an equally wonderful side-by-side take on the British capital, which juxtaposes Claude-Friese Greene's The Open Road, an 86-year-old series of short films made with an early colour camera, with modern-day equivalents.

The Guardian

Twitter will undoubtedly be keen to highlight any Periscope equivalents of the famously-tweeted photos of the Hudson River plane crash in 2009, whether the footage comes from professional journalists or not.

The Guardian - Tech

"The personal information which has been breached is the name, date of birth, title, position nationality, passport number, visa grant number and visa subclass held relating to 31 international leaders (ie prime ministers, presidents and their equivalents) attending the G20 leaders summit," the officer wrote.

The Guardian

The eight-strong group, who previously appeared on the German and Hungarian equivalents of BGT, pipped teenage Yorkshire comedian Jack Carroll, 14, who was runner-up, and Welsh singing brothers Richard and Adam Johnson, who came third.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The course curriculum seemed geared to an early era of computing conducted in languages such as Fortran and Lisp, which had been dead for centuries – the programming equivalents of ancient Greek and Latin.

The Guardian - Books

And while his support in the old media remains strong, in the new media few rightwing equivalents have emerged.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing different qualifications or standards, use "equivalents" to show they have a similar standing or value. This ensures clarity and avoids misunderstandings, particularly in international contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "equivalents" when you mean exact matches. "Equivalents" implies a similarity in function or value, but not necessarily identical properties. Use "identical" or "same" when precision is needed.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "equivalents" is as a plural noun. It typically refers to things that are equal or virtually equal, especially in value, function, or meaning. Ludwig provides multiple examples of its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "equivalents" functions as a plural noun, used to compare the similar value, function, or meaning of different items. It enjoys very common usage, particularly within news, formal business and science contexts, as demonstrated by Ludwig. While it implies similarity, it's important not to confuse "equivalents" with exact matches. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically sound and widely applicable in English writing. For alternatives, consider using "counterparts", "analogues", or "parallels" to fine-tune your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near equivalents

Acknowledges an approximate similarity, indicating that the items are not perfectly identical.

counterparts

Focuses on a direct correspondence or matching item in a different context or system.

analogues

Emphasizes similarity in function or structure, especially in scientific or technical contexts.

correspondences

Highlights the relationship of similarity or analogy between two things.

matches

Highlights an exact or very close correspondence in quality, amount, or other feature.

parallels

Suggests a similarity or analogy between two things, often highlighting corresponding features.

substitutes

Indicates something that takes the place of another, often due to unavailability or preference.

replacements

Focuses on the act of replacing one thing with another, often implying an improvement or upgrade.

alternatives

Presents a choice between different options, each serving a similar purpose.

comparable items

Implies that the items can be compared due to shared characteristics or functions.

FAQs

How do I use "equivalents" in a sentence?

You can use "equivalents" to indicate things that have a similar value, function, or meaning. For example, "These two certifications are considered "near equivalents" in the industry."

What are some alternatives to using the word "equivalents"?

Depending on the context, you could use words like "counterparts", "analogues", or "parallels" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "equivalents" and "substitutes"?

"Equivalents" suggests a similarity in value or function, while "substitutes" implies that one thing is being used in place of another, often due to necessity or convenience. The terms are not always interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "near equivalents" instead of "equivalents"?

Use "near equivalents" when you want to acknowledge that the items being compared are not perfectly identical but still have a close degree of similarity in some important aspect. This adds a layer of precision to your statement.