it is virtually identical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is virtually identical" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing two items or concepts that are almost the same, with only minor differences. Example: "The two designs are so similar that it is virtually identical to the original version."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Niobium is slightly less electropositive and more compact than its predecessor in the periodic table, zirconium, whereas it is virtually identical in size to the heavier tantalum atoms, owing to the lanthanide contraction.

Wikipedia

We can see that it is virtually identical to the BCL curve from 17 March 2006.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

(In fact, except for a few minor tweaks, it is virtually identical to the Yukon).

Forbes

In terms of the stereotaxic coordinates [102] it is virtually identical to the area in which activation during an acute cluster headache attack was demonstrated in the PET study.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Dancers practice the same steps over and over; the same way passionate scientists relentlessly repeat and tweak experiments until they yield the results they thrive to achieve. 1. Learning From Other Disciplines Everyone who studied the creative process across disciplines agrees that it is virtually identical, despite real differences in materials and goals.

Huffington Post

However, the previously characterized C. octonaria sequence (GenBank accession U17504) is also reported to be from I. snyderi [31], but it is virtually identical to our sequences from I. schwarzi (Figure 2).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

As Americans would find out with the help of the Clinton campaign's Howard Wolfson, one of Obama's recent counter-critiques of the Hillary was not only similar to one used by Patrick in his 2006 run for Governor--it was virtually identical.

Huffington Post

He said it was virtually identical to the plan of the Democratic Left leader, Fotis Kouvelis.

The New York Times

I was struck by his report of a recent Boulez performance of "Petrouchka" because it was virtually identical to my experience almost 30 years earler.

The New York Times - Arts

It was virtually identical to a gift Mr. Case sent to his alma mater, Punahou school, a nonreligious school in Hawaii.

The New York Times

Once a conflict diamond had entered the processing stream and been cut and polished, it was virtually identical to any other diamond.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is virtually identical" when you want to emphasize a very strong similarity while acknowledging minor differences that don't significantly alter the overall comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "it is virtually identical" when notable differences exist between the items being compared. This phrase is best reserved for cases where disparities are minimal and inconsequential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is virtually identical" functions as a comparative statement used to express that two or more items are very similar. This indicates near equivalence rather than absolute sameness. Ludwig AI confirms this usage aligns with standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is virtually identical" is a common and correct way to express that two things are almost the same. Ludwig AI validates this phrase's grammatical soundness and frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic writing. While alternatives like "it is almost the same" and "it is practically identical" exist, "it is virtually identical" is useful when emphasizing a high degree of similarity while acknowledging minor, often inconsequential, differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is almost the same

This alternative uses 'almost' instead of 'virtually identical', suggesting a slightly lesser degree of equivalence.

it is practically identical

This alternative uses 'practically' suggesting only minor differences exist.

it is nearly identical

Replaces 'virtually' with 'nearly', indicating close similarity.

it is essentially the same

Uses 'essentially' instead of 'virtually identical', implying that the core characteristics are the same.

it is much the same

Replaces 'virtually identical' with 'much the same', conveying a strong similarity.

it is almost equivalent

Replaces 'identical' with 'equivalent', focusing on functional similarity rather than exact match.

it is substantially similar

Uses 'substantially similar', indicating a notable degree of resemblance, but not necessarily a perfect match.

it bears a close resemblance

Shifts the phrasing to emphasize resemblance rather than identity.

it is closely analogous

Indicates that while not identical, it serves a very similar purpose or function.

it is comparable

Suggests that the two items can be compared directly due to their similarities, though they may not be identical.

FAQs

How can I use "it is virtually identical" in a sentence?

You can use "it is virtually identical" to highlight that two things are almost the same, with only very minor differences. For example, "The prototype and the final product are so similar that "it is virtually identical"".

What's a good alternative to "it is virtually identical"?

Alternatives to "it is virtually identical" include phrases like "it is almost the same", "it is practically identical", or "it is nearly identical".

Which is correct: "it is virtually identical" or "it is exactly identical"?

"It is virtually identical" is correct when things are almost the same but not completely. "It is exactly identical" is used when there are no differences at all. The use of "it is virtually identical" suggests a very high degree of similarity with minor, often negligible, differences.

What is the difference between "it is virtually identical" and "it is similar"?

"It is virtually identical" indicates a very high degree of similarity, implying only minor differences. "It is similar" suggests a resemblance but doesn't specify the extent of the similarity; the differences could be more significant.