largely indistinguishable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largely indistinguishable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that are mostly similar or difficult to tell apart. Example: "The two species of birds are largely indistinguishable to the untrained eye."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But as Microsoft and Intel helped make computers largely indistinguishable, Japan's makers lost ground and money.

The New York Times

All these people, each of them tweeting a tiny Whitmanesque song of himself, are largely indistinguishable.

The New Yorker

The candidates are largely indistinguishable on their policy positions, local political analysts said.

The New York Times

While the speech included many of Mr. Medvedev's campaign themes, it was largely indistinguishable from Mr. Putin's presidential addresses over his two terms.

The New York Times

As a result, representatives of genres that used to be identifiably different from each other – pop, hip-hop, R&B – currently make singles that sound largely indistinguishable.

The Guardian - Music

In that sense, the Taiwan call is the latest indicator that Trump the President will be largely indistinguishable from Trump the candidate.

The New Yorker

Certainly, the enthusiasm with which he joined up in 1914 was largely indistinguishable from Rupert Brooke's "swimmers into cleanness leaping", and just as naive.

The Guardian - Books

The two longtime politicians' platforms were largely indistinguishable, and in any event, the government's freedom of action has been much curtailed by Europe's common monetary and fiscal policies.

The New York Times

Unlike Football Manager, in which largely indistinguishable players glide across the field, FIFA boasts fluid, head-to-head play and astonishingly detailed graphics.

The New Yorker

Most of the other profilers, including the ringleader, J.D. (Christian Slater), are largely indistinguishable, serving as little more than walking targets for the next outlandish murder scheme.

The New York Times

For the last few years, diamonds everywhere have been largely indistinguishable from the "blood diamonds" used by African rulers and rebels to finance their civil wars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "largely indistinguishable", ensure that the context clearly establishes what items are being compared. This clarifies the degree and nature of their similarity.

Common error

Avoid using "largely indistinguishable" when describing items that have obvious differences. The phrase implies a high degree of similarity, so ensure it aligns with the reality of the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely indistinguishable" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. It describes the degree to which two or more things are similar, indicating they are mostly the same or difficult to differentiate. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "largely indistinguishable" is a versatile adjective phrase used to convey a high degree of similarity between two or more things, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It implies that differences are minimal and difficult to discern. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal register. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly defines the compared elements and avoids overstating the similarity. Alternatives include "mostly the same" and "nearly identical".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly identical

Highlights the near-perfect similarity, stronger emphasis on likeness.

mostly the same

Emphasizes similarity in most aspects, slightly less formal.

substantially similar

Highlights the significant degree of likeness, more formal.

virtually alike

Indicates almost complete resemblance, slightly more formal.

much the same

Simple and direct way to express similarity, less formal.

cannot be easily distinguished

Focuses on the inability to easily tell the difference, slightly more formal.

difficult to differentiate

Focuses on the challenge in telling them apart, less direct about similarity.

pretty much alike

Informal way to express a high degree of similarity.

hard to tell apart

Informal way to express difficulty in distinguishing.

comparable to a great extent

More formal and verbose way of indicating substantial similarity.

FAQs

How can I use "largely indistinguishable" in a sentence?

Use "largely indistinguishable" to describe items or concepts that are very similar and difficult to tell apart. For example, "The twins were "largely indistinguishable" as babies."

What are some alternatives to "largely indistinguishable"?

You can use alternatives like "mostly the same", "nearly identical", or "virtually alike", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "completely indistinguishable" instead of "largely indistinguishable"?

While "completely indistinguishable" is grammatically correct, it implies an absolute similarity. "Largely indistinguishable" suggests a high degree of similarity with minor differences possibly existing.

What's the difference between "largely indistinguishable" and "somewhat similar"?

"Largely indistinguishable" implies a stronger degree of similarity compared to "somewhat similar". The former indicates that differences are minimal and hard to detect, while the latter suggests noticeable similarities but also clear distinctions.