nations like

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nations like" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing or referring to specific countries that share similar characteristics or situations. Example: "Nations like Canada and Australia have implemented progressive environmental policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But smaller nations, like Argentina, cannot.

The New York Times

Why are nations like Germany and the U.S. rich?

The New York Times

Creditor nations like Germany insist there can be no renegotiation.

The New York Times

Yet the experiences of other nations, like Germany, suggest otherwise.

The New York Times

Nations like Israel and Australia already have such status.

The New York Times

Retreating nations like Spain will still not be safe.

The New York Times

Muslin nations like Turkey and Indonesia would probably join.

The New York Times

But nations, like people, need to dream sometimes.

The Guardian - Books

Other exceptions are oil-rich, mostly Muslim nations like Kuwait.

The New York Times - Tech

Some Islamic nations like Jordan have also offered forces.

The New York Times

And member nations, like Iraq, are obligated to prohibit procurement of these items.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nations like", ensure that the examples you provide are relevant and clearly illustrate the shared characteristics you are implying.

Common error

Avoid using "nations like" when the comparison is weak or misleading. Ensure the nations share significant and relevant characteristics for the comparison to be valid.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nations like" functions as an exemplifier, introducing specific countries to illustrate a general point. Ludwig examples show its use in comparing economic policies, political statuses, and geographic similarities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nations like" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to introduce examples of countries sharing similar characteristics. As shown by Ludwig, it's predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts. While generally neutral in tone, writers should ensure the comparisons are accurate and relevant. Alternatives such as "countries such as" and "states similar to" offer similar meanings and are useful for varying sentence structure. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

countries such as

Replaces "nations" with "countries", offering a slightly more general term.

states similar to

Substitutes "nations" with "states" and uses "similar to" instead of "like", slightly altering the phrasing.

countries similar to

Uses a more descriptive approach, specifying similarity explicitly.

nations akin to

Replaces "like" with "akin to", providing a more formal tone.

countries comparable to

Uses "comparable to" instead of "like", highlighting the aspect of comparison.

nations resembling

Replaces "like" with "resembling", focusing on the similarity in appearance or characteristics.

nations that resemble

Adds "that resemble" for clarity while maintaining the focus on similarity.

nations of the same kind as

Offers a more descriptive and explanatory way of indicating similarity.

examples of nations including

Adds "examples of nations including" to introduce a list of countries.

various nations including

Introduces a list of countries using "various nations including".

FAQs

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

Use "nations like" to introduce examples of countries sharing a common trait or situation. For example, "Nations like Canada and Germany have strong social welfare systems."

What are some alternatives to "nations like"?

You can use alternatives such as "countries such as", "states similar to", or "nations akin to" to vary your phrasing.

Is there a difference between using "nations like" and "such as"?

"Nations like" and "such as" are similar, but "such as" can be used more broadly to introduce examples, while "nations like" specifically refers to countries with shared attributes. For instance, "products such as apples and bananas" is correct, but "nations such as" may imply similarities between the countries mentioned.

Which is more formal, "nations like" or "countries such as"?

"Countries such as" is generally considered more neutral, while "nations like" is equally acceptable. Both are suitable for most writing contexts, but "nations akin to" could be perceived as slightly more formal.