if not identical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if not identical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two things are similar but not exactly the same. Example: "The two designs are very similar, if not identical, in their overall structure and layout."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

All the features are consistent, if not identical".

The Guardian - Music

These are similar, if not identical, to what he presented in class.

University of California, Berkeley

While occasional disagreement is inevitable, NGOs and governments often have broadly similar – if not identical – aims.

The Guardian

But, overall, the two sets of results are, if not identical twins, then certainly close cousins.

The Guardian - Film

All four teams had  similar, if not identical, win ratios in the Bundesliga and in Europe.

The New York Times

Over all, however, the bills are similar, if not identical, on a vast majority of issues.

The New York Times - Health

They discover their own numbers — people with similar, if not identical, concerns.

The New York Times

That is very close, if not identical, to the standard of Jewish law.

The New York Times

Please note that Columbia Business School and several of our peer institutions use similar, if not identical, recommendation questions.

Columbia University

Increasingly, institutional arrangements allow investors to take short positions that are very similar, if not identical, to negative holdings.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And similar, if not identical, actions occurred in every Verizon territory.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "if not identical" to acknowledge subtle variations while highlighting overall similarity. This phrasing is particularly useful in academic and technical writing where precision is valued, but absolute equivalence cannot be guaranteed.

Common error

Avoid using "if not identical" when there are significant or obvious differences between the items being compared. Overstating the similarity can mislead the reader and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if not identical" serves as a qualifier, indicating a high degree of similarity while acknowledging potential subtle differences. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It functions to refine comparisons and avoid overstatement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

31%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if not identical" is a versatile qualifier used to express a high degree of similarity between two or more entities, while acknowledging possible minor differences. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When writing with "if not identical", be sure to only use it when comparing objects, statements, or ideas that are truly similar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if not the same

Replaces 'identical' with 'the same', offering a more common and slightly less formal alternative.

if not exactly the same

Adds 'exactly' to emphasize the potential for minor differences.

if not virtually the same

Substitutes 'identical' with 'virtually the same', suggesting a very close similarity.

if not indistinguishable

Replaces 'identical' with 'indistinguishable', focusing on the difficulty of telling them apart.

if not virtually identical

Adds 'virtually' to 'identical', suggesting a very close match with negligible differences.

if not substantially similar

Uses 'substantially similar' to emphasize that the key aspects are alike, even if minor details differ.

if not effectively equivalent

Focuses on the functional equivalence of the items, even if they are not perfectly alike.

if not almost identical

Inserts 'almost' to convey a high degree of similarity with a small margin of difference.

if not closely related

Shifts the focus to the relationship between the items, suggesting a strong connection even if not exactly the same.

if not interchangeable

Indicates that the items can be used in place of each other without significant impact.

FAQs

How can I use "if not identical" in a sentence?

Use "if not identical" to indicate that two things are very similar but possibly not exactly the same. For example, "The two reports used similar, "if not identical", methodologies."

What are some alternatives to "if not identical"?

You can use alternatives like "if not the same", "if not virtually identical", or "if not substantially similar" depending on the degree of similarity you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "if not identical"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge a close resemblance between two things while leaving open the possibility of minor differences. This is common in situations where a precise comparison is difficult or unnecessary.

Is "if not identical" formal or informal?

"If not identical" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, consider whether a more precise term would be more appropriate.