exactly identical

USAGE SUMMARY

"exactly identical" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when comparing two identical objects or concepts, to emphasize that they are exactly the same. For example, "The two dresses were exactly identical, right down to the hint of sparkle on the edge of the sleeves."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Another toy looks exactly identical, but we, this time, enabled all the functions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"That doesn't mean it has to be exactly identical".

The New York Times

But they are not exactly identical, as we shall discover.

The Guardian

These addresses need to be exactly identical for the post to be accepted.

Harvard University

"The acts of finding and creating are exactly identical," Mr. Kelly added.

The New York Times

The master equation analysis gives results exactly identical to those of the deterministic analysis.

Chemical Engineering Science

It is proved that the resulting fuzzy controller is functionally exactly identical to the original control system.

Fuzzy Sets and Systems

There is no way to tell how old an electron is, since all electrons are exactly identical to one another.

Cornell University

But nowhere in Ms. Black's article was there a sentence exactly identical to any of Mr. Layne's.

The New York Times

While not exactly identical in structure, biosimilar agents are designed to have highly similar therapeutic function in the body as compared with a reference product.

Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning

So the idea, is really formally, exactly identical to the kind of infinite mixture model that I was describing to you just a moment ago.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exactly identical" when emphasizing the complete absence of differences between two or more things. This phrase is stronger than simply saying "identical".

Common error

Avoid using "exactly identical" with superlatives like "most" or "very". Saying "most exactly identical" is redundant because "exactly" already implies the highest degree of sameness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly identical" functions as an adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to emphasize the complete and absolute sameness between two or more entities. Ludwig examples show it clarifying the degree of similarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

29%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exactly identical" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase designed to emphasize absolute sameness. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its function is to highlight that there are no differences between the compared items. It appears most commonly in scientific, news media, and academic contexts, reflecting a need for precision. While "identical" alone suggests sameness, adding "exactly" strengthens this meaning. When writing, avoid using "exactly identical" with superlatives to prevent redundancy. Consider alternatives like "perfectly identical" or "completely the same" to vary your phrasing. With its clear purpose and widespread use, "exactly identical" remains a valuable tool for ensuring clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perfectly identical

Emphasizes the flawless similarity, highlighting that there are no differences whatsoever.

completely the same

Focuses on the absence of any distinguishing characteristics, stressing that both entities are indistinguishable.

absolutely equivalent

Indicates that both items hold the same value or significance, particularly in abstract contexts.

precisely equivalent

Highlights the exactness of the match, often used in scientific or technical discussions.

wholly alike

Stresses that the entities are similar in every respect, leaving no room for deviation.

indistinguishable

Implies that it is impossible to tell the difference between the items, focusing on the lack of perceivable differences.

duplicates

Suggests that one is a copy or reproduction of the other, emphasizing the act of replication.

carbon copies

A more informal phrase emphasizing the perfect reproduction, implying exactness in every detail.

mirror images

Describes a reversed but otherwise identical copy, often used metaphorically.

virtually the same

Indicates a high degree of similarity with only minor, negligible differences.

FAQs

How to use "exactly identical" in a sentence?

Use "exactly identical" to emphasize that two or more things are completely the same without any differences. For example, "The two fingerprints were "exactly identical", confirming his presence at both locations".

What can I say instead of "exactly identical"?

You can use alternatives like "perfectly identical", "completely the same", or "absolutely equivalent" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "exactly identical"?

While "identical" already implies sameness, using "exactly identical" can add emphasis, clarifying that there are no differences whatsoever. However, ensure the added emphasis is necessary for clarity.

Which is correct, "almost exactly identical" or "nearly identical"?

"Nearly identical" is generally preferred as "almost" or "nearly" already suggest an approximation. "Almost "exactly identical"" can be seen as contradictory since "exactly" means without any difference.