little identical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little identical" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that is somewhat similar or has minor similarities, but the combination of "little" and "identical" is contradictory. Example: "The two designs are not identical, but they are a little similar in style."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Two little identical heads track my movement.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nucleotide sequence analysis of representative sequences of families reported in Tables 2 and 3 showed that even with a fairly permissive classification, there is little identical sequence overlap between the two seasons.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The responses have changed little from identical questions Pew asked in March and July.

Forbes

Two little girls, identical in every way, would dance and sing "Ring Around the Rosie" in chilling unison, as primary-colored posies rained down from above.

Huffington Post

Yet, it's all made so accessible through the story of little Wyatt Maines, identical twin, born a boy, who knew, as early as she knew anything, that she was a girl, despite having a penis.

Huffington Post

The bars were each equally likely to be either 0.13°×2.08° or 0.13°×3.12° large, and in half the trials they were black (first-order-motion condition), and in half the trials they consisted of little squares identical to those in the background (second-order-motion condition).

Plosone

Returning to consciousness is a little like two identical transparencies passing over each other.

The New Yorker

"The real issue for us is to see how we go against our little group of identical boats.

The Guardian - Sport

Kitchens were awash with women in the same cherry-patterned housedress; an army of little boys wore identical blue suits.

The New York Times

Meanwhile the almost identical little blonde boy seemed to have based his character on Fagin's urchins from Oliver! Artful Dodger he was.

Independent

Occasionally, they surprised everyone, appearing at a pujo for a few hours with their two identical little girls who barely looked Bengali and spoke only English and were being raised so differently from me and most of the other children.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "little identical" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "slightly similar" or "virtually identical" depending on the context.

Common error

Don't use "little" to qualify "identical". The word "identical" means "exactly alike". You cannot be "a little" exactly alike; instead, clarify the nature and degree of similarity you intend to convey with "slightly similar" or "nearly identical".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little identical" functions as a descriptive phrase, although its usage is questionable. As Ludwig AI points out, the combination of "little" and "identical" is contradictory, as "identical" implies an exact match, which cannot be qualified by "little".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "little identical" is considered grammatically incorrect and lacks clear meaning in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, the combination of "little" and "identical" creates a contradiction. While some examples exist in sources like The Guardian and PlosOne, it's advisable to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives, such as "slightly similar" or "virtually identical". Using more accurate and common phrases ensures clarity and enhances the credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually identical

Expresses near-perfect similarity.

slightly similar

Emphasizes a small degree of similarity.

somewhat alike

Suggests a moderate level of resemblance.

very similar

Highlights a considerable degree of likeness.

nearly the same

Indicates a close, but not exact, match.

almost indistinguishable

Highlights the difficulty in telling the difference.

roughly equivalent

Implies an approximate equivalence.

fairly comparable

Indicates a reasonable basis for comparison.

not entirely different

Suggests some overlap or shared qualities.

shares some traits

Focuses on shared characteristics or features.

FAQs

What does "little identical" mean?

The phrase "little identical" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and doesn't have a clear meaning in standard English. It seems to suggest something is somewhat similar, but the words are contradictory. Using phrases like "slightly similar" or "nearly identical" conveys a clearer meaning.

How can I use "little" to describe similarity correctly?

You can use "little" with words that describe a degree of similarity, but not with words that indicate an exact match. For example, it's correct to say "a little similar" or "a little alike", but not "little identical".

Is there a situation where "little identical" is acceptable?

While not standard, in very informal or creative contexts, someone might use "little identical" for emphasis, but it's best to avoid it in formal writing. "Virtually identical", "almost the same", or "very similar" are better alternatives.

What is the difference between "little identical" and "slightly similar"?

"Little identical" is grammatically questionable. "Slightly similar" is grammatically correct and conveys that two things have some resemblance, but are not exactly alike. "Slightly" indicates the degree of similarity is small, making it a more precise and acceptable phrase.