like always

USAGE SUMMARY

"like always" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that the present situation or experience is similar to a previous situation or experience. For example, "I enjoyed the party last night, like always."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I will do like always.

The New York Times - Sports

"He said 'What's up?' like always.

The New York Times

"I'm ready to do it," he says simply, "like always".

The Guardian - Sport

Watson started the game on a tear, like always.

TechCrunch

"I like always remaining flexible," Trump added.

Vice

"Feels like always carrying sandbags, feels heavy".

BMJ Open

Just like always.

The New York Times - Sports

It's slightly burnt, like always.

The New York Times

"Blame me just like always.

The New York Times - Sports

And Joey was totally responsible like always.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Here, we showed that IL-8 and basal-like always clustered together (Additional file 3).

BMC Medical Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "like always" to convey a sense of familiarity or predictability in a situation. It works best when referencing something that has a history of repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "like always" in formal academic or business writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives such as "typically" or "consistently" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "like always" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or situation is consistent with past occurrences. This is validated by Ludwig, which confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

21%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "like always" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to denote familiarity and predictability. According to Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for informal contexts such as news articles and general discussions, but it should be used cautiously in formal academic or business writing. For such settings, alternatives like "typically" or "consistently" may be more appropriate. Overall, "like always" serves as a quick and effective way to express that a situation is unfolding as expected, based on past experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as usual

Focuses on the routine aspect of the situation; something is happening in the customary manner.

typically

Highlights the characteristic pattern or behavior associated with a subject or situation.

invariably

Suggests that something happens without fail or exception, every single time.

consistently

Emphasizes the steady and reliable nature of the action or state being described.

habitually

Indicates a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior or occurrence.

customarily

Points to actions or events following established social norms or personal practices.

as per tradition

Highlights the cultural or traditional aspect of the recurring event or action.

without exception

Highlights that something is the same every time and no cases are an exception

every time

Focuses on each individual instance of repetition.

predictably

Emphasizes the quality of an event being expected, in the same way as before

FAQs

How can I use "like always" in a sentence?

Use "like always" to describe situations that consistently occur in the same manner. For instance, "The service was slow, "as usual"" or "He arrived late, "like always"."

What are some alternatives to "like always"?

You can use phrases such as "typically", "invariably", or ""as usual"" to convey similar meanings. The choice depends on the context and the nuance you want to express.

Is it appropriate to use "like always" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "like always" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, consider more sophisticated alternatives such as "consistently" or "habitually".

What's the difference between "like always" and "as always"?

Both phrases express repetition, but "like always" is slightly more colloquial. "As always" might be perceived as slightly more formal and polished, though both are widely understood.