is practically the same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is practically the same" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing two things that are very similar or nearly identical in nature or function. Example: "The two models of the car are practically the same, with only minor differences in features."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Finally, they ask if it's scary working underground, which to me is practically the same question.

The New York Times

Winning the Leger is practically the same thing as gelding yourself.

The Guardian - Sport

Ms. Stewart's friends say that her current social activity is practically the same as it always was.

The New York Times

For a hilltop museum with no public parking nearby and in a city with limited public transportation, the parking increase is practically the same as an admission fee.

The New York Times - Arts

The chorus melody is practically the same, although the scrappiness of the recording does mean the trite lyrics get lost in the slur of Adams's delivery.

The Guardian - Music

UTC is practically the same as GMT — so you can work out the time the leap second will happen according to how many hours behind or ahead of that you are.

Independent

Mr Abbott has also backed away from more ambitious targets in the future "in the absence of very serious like binding commitments from other countries" which, in reality, is practically the same position taken by the previous government.

The Guardian

Some projections have equal-area properties, while others provide for conformal delineations in which, for small areas, the shape is practically the same as it would be on a globe.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We sell larger amounts from the middle market, even though our market share is practically the same as the United States," he said, explaining that the New York location sold fewer but more expensive items.

The New York Times - Arts

The absolutists of the old left imagined that victory would, when it came, be total and permanent, which is practically the same as saying that victory was and is impossible and will never come.

The Guardian - Books

And he offered an answer: "There is no remedy but to persuade the public that green cheese is practically the same thing and to have a green cheese factory (i.e. central bank) under public control".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is practically the same", ensure that the context clearly indicates what aspects are similar. Avoid overuse by considering alternatives like "is nearly identical" or "is essentially the same" for variety.

Common error

Avoid using "is practically the same" when there are significant or relevant differences between the subjects being compared. In such cases, opt for a more nuanced expression like "shares some similarities with" or "is similar in some respects to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is practically the same" serves as a predicate adjective, functioning to describe the similarity between two subjects. It conveys that while not perfectly identical, the subjects are alike to a degree that the differences are insignificant. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is commonly used in English writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is practically the same" is a versatile expression used to denote a high degree of similarity between two things, suggesting that any differences are minor or inconsequential. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is grammatically correct and fairly frequent across various domains. While "is practically the same" is suitable for many situations, alternative phrases such as "is virtually identical" or "is essentially the same" may offer a more nuanced or specific meaning depending on the context. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that any existing differences are genuinely insignificant to avoid misleading the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is virtually identical

Emphasizes the near-perfect similarity between two things.

is essentially the same

Focuses on the core essence being identical, despite minor differences.

is almost the same

Highlights that the two things are very close but not completely identical.

is nearly identical

Similar to 'virtually identical', stressing the very close resemblance.

is for all intents and purposes the same

A more formal way of saying something is the same in practical terms.

is much the same

Indicates a high degree of similarity, though perhaps not perfect.

is effectively the same

Suggests that the end result or impact is the same.

is tantamount to

Implies that the two things are equivalent in their effect or consequence.

is comparable to

Highlights that the two things share significant similarities and can be compared.

is analogous to

Suggests a resemblance or similarity, often for explanatory purposes.

FAQs

How can I use "is practically the same" in a sentence?

You can use "is practically the same" to indicate that two things are very similar or nearly identical. For example, "The two models of the phone "is practically the same", with only minor differences in features."

What are some alternatives to "is practically the same"?

You can use alternatives like "is virtually identical", "is essentially the same", or "is almost the same" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "is practically the same"?

It's appropriate to use "is practically the same" when comparing two items or concepts where the differences are negligible or do not significantly affect the outcome or function. Make sure that you're not overstating the similarity when relevant differences do exist.

What's the difference between "is practically the same" and "is exactly the same"?

"Is practically the same" implies a very high degree of similarity with minor or irrelevant differences, while "is exactly the same" indicates complete and total equivalence without any differences.