identical to when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "identical to when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare two situations or states that are the same at a specific point in time. Example: "The results of the experiment were identical to when we conducted it last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Ted's views today politically are almost identical to when I met him," Panton told me.

The New Yorker

When participants recalled a word — "cat," for example — the pattern in this region looked identical to when "cat" was originally seen on the computer screen.

The New York Times - Health

In his charity-shop suit and skinny tie, Cocker looked pretty much identical to when I saw him play a few weeks ago and, because of that, the video felt less dated than it might have.

Independent

Carlisle wrote the foreword to McKenzie's autobiography two years ago – a poignant read anyway but heightened given recent events – and said: "Although Leon's circumstances were completely different to mine, his thoughts and feelings were almost identical to when I was at my lowest".

The Guardian - Sport

The moment is almost identical to when Margaery breaks the tension between Tyrion and Joffrey at the latter's wedding feast on "Game of Thrones" by also blurting out, "The pie!" What's more, Joffrey ends up dying in that episode after washing the pie down with poisoned wine, and Murphy had suspicions the pie in "Leftovers" was actually poisoned.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The bi-temporal set 2a individuates the highest average 0.695 when the data are centered and scaled (D), practically identical to 0.694 when using uncentered-unscaled data (A).

Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards

This is almost identical to last year, when Kinney was first, Dahl and Hunt held joint second, followed by Walliams, Simon, and Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson and Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins in joint fifth place.

The Guardian - Books

becomes identical to (9) when β=2.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

which is identical to (D.3) when, and.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Similar to (28), this p.d.f. also becomes identical to (9) when ν→∞, and the probability of (28) does not depend on the phase of yij,n.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

This is identical to 1998 when solutions to the Asian financial crisis which spread to Russia, Brazil and a large U.S. hedge fund led to the current mess.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "identical to when", ensure the context provides a clear reference point for the time being compared. This will help avoid ambiguity and enhance clarity.

Common error

While "identical to when" is grammatically correct, avoid using it excessively. Simpler phrases like "the same as when" can often convey the same meaning more directly and clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "identical to when" functions as a comparative conjunction, linking two situations or states by asserting their sameness across time. Ludwig AI highlights that this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "identical to when" is a grammatically correct comparative conjunction used to emphasize the sameness of two situations or states across time. While considered correct and usable according to Ludwig AI, its frequency is rare. Predominantly found in science and news contexts, this phrase is used to draw direct parallels, ensuring clarity and precision in comparisons. When writing, remember that simpler alternatives may sometimes offer better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the same as when

This alternative uses simpler vocabulary but retains the core meaning of similarity to a past state.

consistent with when

This highlights consistency over time, suggesting a maintained state.

mirrors the time when

Uses "mirrors" to indicate a strong resemblance to a past situation.

akin to when

Uses "akin" to express a similarity or equivalence to a point in the past.

resembles when

Highlights the visual or qualitative similarity between two points in time.

comparable to when

Indicates a degree of similarity that allows for comparison between two different times.

matches how it was when

Emphasizes an exact match or alignment with a previous state or condition.

on par with when

Indicates the current situation is at the same level or standard as in the past.

bears resemblance to when

Focuses on a noticeable similarity but may imply it's not a complete match.

analogous to when

Suggests a parallel or similarity in some respects, but not necessarily completely identical.

FAQs

What does "identical to when" mean?

The phrase "identical to when" is used to describe something that is exactly the same as it was at a previous point in time.

How can I use "identical to when" in a sentence?

You can use "identical to when" to compare a current state or condition to a past one, such as: "His political views are "the same as when" he was in college".

What are some alternatives to "identical to when"?

Alternatives include "the same as when", "consistent with when", or "resembles when", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "identical to when" or "the same as when"?

"Identical to when" is more formal and emphasizes exact similarity. "The same as when" is simpler and more commonly used. The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.