materially the same

USAGE SUMMARY

"materially the same" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that two things are nearly identical in their essential qualities or features. For example, you could say, "The two versions of the book were materially the same, but the illustrations in the second edition were improved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"If we consider them materially the same as traditional foods, the role for the F.D.A. would be minimal," Dr. Sundlof said.

The New York Times

In the interest of brevity, the tables only contain the binary probit results, but we have also estimated them as ordered probits, binary logits and ordered logits, and the estimates are materially the same.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Noting that the Royal Proclamation of 1763 applied while Florida was under British rule from 1763 to 1783, Baldwin held that Spanish law (which he perceived to be materially the same as British law in this respect) governed the extinguishment of aboriginal title when the territory reverted to Spanish rule from 1783 to 1821.

Wikipedia

Data were missing on dietary covariates for around 20% of births, but the results remained materially the same after these adjustments.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The results were materially the same when we repeated these analyses with adjustment for the subtracted component, respectively.> -wrap-foot> ands and 95% CIs are based on random-effects meta-analyses.

Diabetologia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The thinking is that if you are materially doing the same job for more than 3 to 5 years, it suggests that you may not be growing, building new competencies, expanding networks, etc. Compensation is another area where seniority has been deemphasized at AT&T.

Harvard Business Review

"The question is, if materially you have the same life, what do really big words like 'freedom,'independencece' mean?" Nesbø said.

The New Yorker

Analysis showed that the findings did not materially change, with the same overall pattern of results seen (data not shown).

BMJ Open

You can openly be an intellectual elitist here, but materially you must act the same as everyone else.

The New York Times - Arts

The reason he could do this is that, in his system, when two sentences are materially equivalent, they name the same truth value.] We shall soon see why this principle is inconsistent.

SEP

That is, Socrates on Monday is not the same whole materially as Socrates on Friday, because the sum of material parts belonging to Socrates on Monday is not identical to the sum of material parts on Friday (De toto et parte, 301).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "materially the same", ensure that the context clearly indicates which specific aspects are being compared. This clarifies the scope of the similarity.

Common error

Avoid using "materially the same" when significant differences exist. Ensure the features being compared are truly alike in all essential respects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "materially the same" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe a state of near-equivalence between two or more entities. Ludwig provides examples where it modifies nouns to indicate that despite potential superficial differences, the core essence or functionality remains consistent. This is also confirmed by Ludwig AI, which points to its use in describing near-identical qualities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "materially the same" is used to express that two things are virtually identical in their key aspects, even if minor differences exist. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. While the frequency of this expression can be considered uncommon, it appears across a range of authoritative sources, including scientific journals, news publications, and academic texts. Understanding its appropriate contexts and subtle nuances is crucial for precise and effective communication. Related phrases offer various ways to express similarity, each with its own specific emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essentially identical

Focuses on the core qualities being alike, minimizing superficial differences.

virtually indistinguishable

Highlights the difficulty in perceiving any notable difference.

substantially equivalent

Emphasizes a practical sameness, even if some minor variations exist.

practically equivalent

Implies an equivalence that is true in almost every relevant aspect.

largely comparable

Indicates a broad level of similarity, but allows for exceptions.

almost the same

A simpler way of expressing similarity with potential minor variation.

near equivalent

A phrase which indicates a very close level of likeness or interchangeability.

effectively alike

Describes the entities or concepts as functioning in the same manner.

much the same

Suggests that two things are very similar, even if not completely identical.

broadly similar

Suggests a general resemblance but leaves room for more significant discrepancies.

FAQs

How can I use "materially the same" in a sentence?

You can use "materially the same" to compare two things that are nearly identical in their essential qualities. For example, "Although the designs were updated, the underlying technology remained "materially the same"".

What's a less formal alternative to "materially the same"?

Less formal alternatives include phrases like "basically the same", "pretty much the same", or "almost identical" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How does "materially the same" differ from "exactly the same"?

"Materially the same" indicates a high degree of similarity in essential aspects, but it allows for minor differences. "Exactly the same" implies complete identity without any differences.

Is it appropriate to use "materially the same" in legal documents?

Yes, "materially the same" is often used in legal and technical contexts to describe items or processes that are functionally equivalent even if there are superficial variations. However, consult a legal professional for advice.