identically

USAGE SUMMARY

'identically' is a perfectly valid word in written English.
It means "in exactly the same manner," and it can be used to describe two things or situations that are exactly the same in some way. For example, you could say "The two cars are identically colored, but they are of different models."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For example if we take the set of all identities expressible with the operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication and constants 0 and 1 that hold for the integers, then the algebras in which those equations hold identically are exactly the commutative rings with identity.

SEP

Independent, identically distributed outcomes most commonly result from the repetition of identical statistical experiments (e.g., repeated tosses of a coin, or repeated measurements of quantum systems prepared in identical states).

SEP

Experiments at Seattle aquarium prove that octopuses can tell individual humans apart – even when the people are dressed identically – just by looking up at them through the water.

The Guardian

This includes obvious items, such as the artist and title stored in the file's metadata, as well as a kind of shorthand signature of the file's contents that can be compared against identically recorded songs.

The Economist

Once ink hits paper, no single letter is reproduced identically.

The Economist

When Dr Wertz and Dr Wynn had the results analysed, they found that their "volunteers" responded identically to the fake plants and the real ones, taking an average of 9.9 seconds before reaching out to touch them.

The Economist

The lack of atmosphere in space means that missiles travel predictably, but it also means that decoys such as balloons move identically.

The Economist

In OE, we had a contrast between læt 'slow' and læte 'slowly', but later these came to be pronounced identically.

The Economist

In the next crisis, would we prefer all firms to operate identically, so that they all fail at once?

The Economist

In the name of egalitarianism this held that all pupils, all teachers and all schools should be treated identically.

The Economist

The volunteers were also fed identically before fasting and were asked to keep their activities on the day preceding each study as similar as possible.After the volunteers had eaten, Dr Batterham took blood samples from them every 30 minutes for an hour and a half, and measured the concentration of peptide YY.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "identically", ensure that the comparison is precise and accurate. The term implies an exact match, so avoid it when describing things that are merely similar.

Common error

Avoid using "identically" when you mean "similarly" or "closely". "Identically" indicates an exact match, not a near approximation. For example, instead of saying 'The two paintings were identically colored', use 'The two paintings were similarly colored' if the colors are not an exact match.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "identically" functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that something is done or exists in a way that is exactly the same. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a precise match or correspondence. Examples from Ludwig show its use in scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "identically" signifies an exact match or equivalence, commonly used to modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and sees frequent use across diverse contexts. This guide highlights that while it's suitable for neutral to formal registers, it's critical to ensure the comparison is indeed precise. Misusing it for near matches is a common error. Ludwig examples underscore its importance in conveying accuracy, with synonyms such as "exactly alike" and "in the same way" offering nuanced alternatives. Authoritative sources like The Economist and Encyclopedia Britannica frequently employ this term, reflecting its wide acceptance in high-quality writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exactly alike

This alternative highlights the lack of any difference between two or more things, focusing on their indistinguishability.

without any difference

This phrase stresses the absence of variation, suggesting a total correspondence between the items being compared.

indistinguishably

This word emphasizes the inability to tell things apart.

in the same way

This alternative emphasizes the manner in which something is done, highlighting a similarity in process or method rather than strict identity.

in a similar fashion

This phrase focuses on the resemblance between actions or states, suggesting a likeness that might not be exact.

to the same degree

This alternative highlights equality in intensity or extent, emphasizing a shared level or measure.

in complete agreement

This alternative focuses on the correspondence of opinions or positions, rather than physical similarity.

in equal measure

This alternative stresses the balanced or proportionate nature of the similarity.

on par

This phrase implies that two things are equal or equivalent, especially in terms of quality or status.

uniformly

This alternative stresses consistency across a group or area.

FAQs

How to use "identically" in a sentence?

Use "identically" to describe something that is exactly the same as something else. For example, "The twins were dressed "exactly alike"".

What words can I use instead of "identically"?

You can use synonyms like "exactly", "alike", or "in the same way" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something is "identically similar"?

No, the phrase "identically similar" is redundant. "Identically" already implies sameness, so adding "similar" is unnecessary and creates confusion. Use either "identical" or "similar", but not both together.

What's the difference between "identically" and "uniformly"?

"Identically" refers to an exact match between two or more things. "Uniformly" describes a consistent or even distribution across a group or area. For example, apples can be identically red or they can be uniformly distributed.