it even counts as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it even counts as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something is considered to be a certain type or category, often in a surprising or unexpected way. Example: "For some people, watching a documentary can even count as studying for their history exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Perhaps it even counts as another positive.

The Guardian - Sport

Whether it even counts as "good" will probably differ from viewer to viewer, depending on your affection for these characters.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But does it even count as news?

The Guardian - Opinion

Does it even count as a piece of cinema or would reviewing it be like critiquing advertising, or a war report?

Vice

The plot an original idea is in danger of being compromised and sanitized, with the reluctant participation of its creator is something that happens so often that it hardly even counts as a story.

The New York Times

It barely even counts as news.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It barely even counts as three people, since Harry Styles and I are essentially the same person — or were, before he cut his hair.

The New Yorker

In the case of unleaded petrol, it is now so much the default choice that it no longer even counts as an ethical purchase.

The Guardian - Money

Whether whether even counts as an option in genuine truth-telling — shouldn't that be a thunderbolt?

The New Yorker

(Indeed, what even counts as "wacky" is context-dependent, and thus lives in the eye of the beholder: my quirky is your white-bread snooze-a-roo).

The New Yorker

Besides which, absent some kind of ideological priors, there's often no clear way to decide what even counts as tragedy, and what looks like a success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it even counts as" to express a surprising or unexpected categorization. For example, "Having a productive conversation with a friend can even count as therapy sometimes."

Common error

Avoid using "it even counts as" when you mean a direct equivalency. This phrase implies a slightly surprising or generous interpretation, not a strict identity. For instance, don't say "Drinking water even counts as eating a vegetable," because it's inaccurate and misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it even counts as" functions as a qualifier, suggesting that something might be considered to belong to a particular category, often in a surprising or unexpected way. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in written English. The adverb "even" emphasizes the unexpected nature of the categorization.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it even counts as" is used to suggest a broad, and sometimes surprising, categorization of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media. When employing this phrase, ensure you aim to express an unexpected or generous classification, rather than a strict equivalence. Semantically related alternatives include "it could be argued that it is" or "it could even qualify as". Always use "it even counts as" instead of the incorrect "it even counts like".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it could even qualify as

Emphasizes that something nearly meets the requirements to be classified as something else.

it could also be seen as

Focuses on how something can be viewed or interpreted, suggesting an alternative perspective.

it nearly constitutes

Focuses on whether something is approaching the threshold of representing something else.

it might as well be considered

Emphasizes the suggestion that something can be thought of in a certain way, highlighting possibility.

it practically amounts to

Emphasizes that the end result is almost the same as another thing.

it may as well be labeled

Highlights the act of giving a name or description to something, suggesting a broad classification.

it could be argued that it is

Highlights the aspect of debating or reasoning whether something belongs to a category.

it virtually is

Focuses on how something is almost identical to another thing.

it is tantamount to

Focuses on how something is effectively the same as another thing.

it can be loosely defined as

Highlights the aspect of interpretation and flexibility of definitions.

FAQs

How can I use "it even counts as" in a sentence?

Use "it even counts as" to suggest that something might be considered a certain way, perhaps surprisingly. For example, "For some, watching a documentary "it even counts as" studying."

What can I say instead of "it even counts as"?

You can use alternatives like "it could be seen as", "it might as well be considered", or "it could even qualify as", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "it even counts as" or "it even counts like"?

"It even counts as" is the correct and standard phrasing. "It even counts like" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "it even counts as" and "it simply is"?

"It even counts as" suggests a surprising or generous interpretation, whereas "it simply is" implies a direct, straightforward equivalence. For instance, saying "helping someone "it even counts as" volunteering" means it's like volunteering; saying "helping someone "it simply is" volunteering" is a direct assertion of its nature.