highly alike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly alike" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that are very similar or comparable in nature or characteristics. Example: "The two paintings are highly alike, both featuring similar color palettes and brushstroke techniques."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

With the development of smart grid technology the introduction of smart PEV chargers to coordinate and control PEV charging looks highly alike.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Unsupervised hierarchical clustering, the grouping of tumours based on their similarity measured overall genes on the array, revealed that the gene expression profiles of primary breast and matching regional metastatic tumours are highly alike.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A zero occurrence of dispensing errors related to highly "look-alike" and "sound-alike" NovoMix 30® (biphasic insulin aspart) and NovoRapid® (insulin aspart) has been achieved since October 2011.

Clinical interventions in aging

One of the only figures who could make a big impact on people's attitudes to piracy was God, who was found to influence less, moderately and highly religious people alike.

Independent

And Emiliana's easeful version may have chardonnay in the blend, but its billowing stone fruit and sweet floral and herbal fragrance, seasoned with a little oak, makes for a highly polished Rhône-alike.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This provides new opportunities for immigrants and for more highly paid domestic workers alike.

The New York Times

"Nobody's going to sound exactly alike," Carla Meyer, a highly regarded dialect coach, told me.

The New Yorker

"All of the applicants — participants and withdrawals alike — emerge as highly committed, articulate supporters of the goals and values of the summer program," he concluded.

The New Yorker

The biggest concern for a debt-laden economy like America's is that people expect inflation to stay high and interest rates to soar in response, crushing highly leveraged firms and consumers alike.

The Economist

Conservatives have applied the term to the social safety net available to the highly privileged and the unprivileged alike -- a net economic elites seldom need and propagandize against.

Huffington Post

The Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which Lincoln issued after Antietam, had been highly divisive among civilians and soldiers alike.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly alike" to emphasize a strong degree of similarity that is easily noticeable or significant. It's more impactful than simply saying "similar".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "highly alike" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for more natural alternatives like "very similar" or "much the same" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly alike" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or noun phrase to describe a strong degree of similarity. Ludwig shows that it is used to qualify the resemblance between different entities.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly alike" is used to denote a significant degree of similarity between two or more entities. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. When choosing alternatives, consider options like "very similar" or "closely resembling" depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis. Remember that while technically correct, overusing "highly alike" in very informal contexts might sound unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very similar

Emphasizes a strong resemblance but is more general than "highly alike".

closely resembling

Highlights the visual similarity and close match between two or more elements.

strikingly similar

Highlights an impressive or easily noticeable similarity.

remarkably alike

Highlights an unexpected or surprising similarity.

virtually identical

Indicates near perfect match, bordering on indistinguishable.

much the same

Suggests a similarity that is almost equivalent, with little difference.

cut from the same cloth

Suggests a common origin or nature, implying a deep-seated similarity.

two peas in a pod

Indicates an extreme similarity, often used for people or things that are inseparable.

mirror images

Highlights the exact resemblance between two elements.

birds of a feather

Emphasizes a shared taste or character, implying similar interests or behaviors.

FAQs

What does "highly alike" mean?

The phrase "highly alike" means that two or more things are very similar to each other. It suggests a strong resemblance or close match.

When should I use "highly alike"?

You can use "highly alike" when you want to emphasize a strong degree of similarity between two or more things. It's appropriate in formal writing or when you want to make a strong statement about the resemblance.

What are some alternatives to "highly alike"?

Some alternatives to "highly alike" include "very similar", "closely resembling", or "strikingly similar" depending on the specific context.

Is "highly alike" the same as "exactly the same"?

No, "highly alike" indicates a strong similarity but not necessarily a perfect match. "Exactly the same" implies that there are no differences whatsoever, while "highly alike" suggests that there are still some distinctions, even if they are minor.