functionally equivalent to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "functionally equivalent to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when comparing two things that serve the same purpose or function, even if they are different in form or appearance. For example, "The new software is functionally equivalent to the old version." Alternative expressions include "essentially the same as," "comparable to," and "serves the same function as."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Incorporation of an unpreferred codon is unlikely to be functionally equivalent to a complete loss of function.

Biology Direct

Rice (Oryza sativa) proteins also exhibit functional differentiation, although they are not always functionally equivalent to their Arabidopsis homologues.

BMC Plant Biology

Functional complementation studies will determine whether CgZF1 and AgZF1 are functionally equivalent to putative orthologous genes identified in legumes.

BMC Plant Biology

Together, these functional characterization experiments suggest that neocentromeres in DT40 cells are functionally equivalent to endogenous centromeres.

Developmental Cell

"That," he said, "is functionally equivalent to a quota system".

The New York Times

Looking to guns for salvation is functionally equivalent to religion.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rewritable discs are functionally equivalent to magnetic disks, although the former are slower.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Changing the serine residues to aspartate, which is functionally equivalent to phosphorylation, had a similar effect.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research

The tethered construct (TTR-L-TTR 2 is sTTR-L-TTR 2 TTR-L-TTR 2nally equisalent to wild-type TTR.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Medicare administrators, for instance, declared Amgen's new anemia drug, Aranesp, to be "functionally equivalent" to the older drug Procrit and therefore not eligible for extra reimbursement.

The New York Times - Health

The court dismissed arguments that leased military bases abroad "which continue under the sovereignty of foreign nations" were functionally equivalent to land borders or ports of entry.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "functionally equivalent to", ensure that the context clearly establishes the specific function or aspect in which the equivalence holds. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "functionally equivalent to" when only some aspects are similar. If there are significant differences, consider using weaker terms like "similar to" or "comparable to" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "functionally equivalent to" serves as an adjective phrase, indicating that two or more items, concepts, or systems perform the same function or produce the same result, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

29%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "functionally equivalent to" is a grammatically sound and common expression used to highlight that different entities perform the same function or achieve the same outcome. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it frequently appears in scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in specifying the function being compared to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "effectively the same as" and "tantamount to". Ludwig's analysis confirms the phrase's correct usage and widespread applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tantamount to

Implies an equal effect or value, often in a negative context.

effectively the same as

Focuses on the practical outcome being indistinguishable.

operationally equivalent to

Highlights equivalence in terms of how something works or operates.

serves the same purpose as

Emphasizes the shared goal or intended use.

performs the same function as

Highlights the similarity in action or task completion.

interchangeable with

Suggests direct substitutability without significant difference.

virtually identical to

Indicates a very close resemblance, almost to the point of being the same.

comparable to

Suggests similarities worth comparing, but not necessarily complete equivalence.

akin to

Suggests a resemblance or similarity in quality or character.

analogous to

Implies a parallel or similarity that allows for analogy between two things.

FAQs

What does "functionally equivalent to" mean?

The phrase "functionally equivalent to" means that two or more things perform the same function or achieve the same result, even if they are different in their design or composition. For example, two different software programs might be considered functionally equivalent if they both accomplish the same tasks for the user.

When is it appropriate to use "functionally equivalent to" in writing?

Use "functionally equivalent to" when you want to emphasize that different entities serve the same purpose or achieve similar outcomes. It's appropriate in technical, scientific, and general contexts where you need to highlight the practical interchangeability of two or more items or concepts.

What are some alternatives to "functionally equivalent to"?

You can use alternatives like "effectively the same as", "tantamount to", or "serves the same purpose as" depending on the specific context.

How can I use "functionally equivalent to" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The new policy is "functionally equivalent to" the old one in terms of its impact on employee benefits" or "The generic drug is "functionally equivalent to" the brand-name drug, providing the same therapeutic effect".