perfectly alike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perfectly alike" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that are identical or indistinguishable from each other. Example: "The twins looked perfectly alike, making it difficult for their friends to tell them apart."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The atoms of a certain element are perfectly alike in weight, figure, etc.; and the same point applies to the atoms of a certain compound.

Encyclopedia Britannica

People on the stage and off were all dressed so perfectly alike that it felt like a honky tonk-themed costume party.

The Guardian

So the experiences you have as a BIV and the experiences you have as a normal person are perfectly alike, indistinguishable, so to speak, "from the inside".

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They excelled at foraging, even against orders, and picked farm and chicken houses alike perfectly clean.

The New York Times

There is no time to waste, so jokes and music alike must be perfectly on beat.

The Guardian - Opinion

To be sure, there were instances of ugly rhetoric and inexcusable violence against the Muslim community, but our nation's leaders -- Democrat and Republican alike -- made it perfectly clear that attacking Muslims and their faith was inappropriate and unacceptable.

Huffington Post

In a culture where presidents, celebrities and products alike are assessed as brands, it's perfectly natural to be more fascinated by the people shaping the image than the ones who merely claim it in public.

The New York Times

I recall finding a bottle of scotch in a cupboard of the RV, which Frank and I used pharmaceutically at the end of each day of adventure as we sat before dinner in the Murphy perfectly matched lawn chairs (from yard sales; no 2 alike).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

The NRA is perfectly content to arm everyone -- abusers and the abused alike -- and have them engage in shootouts in order to preserve their lives.

Huffington Post

Golfers and non-golfers alike can appreciate the satisfying beauty of Rory McIlroy's perfectly placed hole-in-one.

Huffington Post

In "A Night with Janis Joplin," from 2013, Joplin, played by the knockout Joplin-alike Mary Bridget Davies, found a style and a song that suited her perfectly: "Piece of My Heart" (by Bert Berns!).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perfectly alike" to emphasize a strong or surprising degree of similarity between two or more things. It's most effective when the similarity is unexpected or noteworthy.

Common error

Avoid using "perfectly alike" when a simpler term like "similar" or "identical" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perfectly alike" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun or pronoun, emphasizing the extent to which two or more entities share similar characteristics. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for describing a high degree of similarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perfectly alike" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the complete or near-complete similarity between two or more things. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is rare, it appears across various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific texts. Alternative phrases like ""exactly alike"" or "utterly alike" offer similar meanings. When writing, use "perfectly alike" to highlight notable similarities, but avoid overuse in simple comparisons to maintain clarity and conciseness. Overall, it's a useful phrase for conveying a high degree of resemblance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly alike

Replaces "perfectly" with "utterly", emphasizing the completeness of the similarity.

exactly alike

Substitutes "perfectly" with "exactly", indicating precise similarity.

completely identical

Replaces "alike" with "identical" and uses "completely" for emphasis.

indistinguishable

Uses a single word to express the inability to tell the difference.

virtually the same

Indicates a similarity that is so close as to be practically identical.

mirror images

Suggests a reflection-like similarity, implying near-perfect resemblance.

carbon copies

Implies an exact reproduction, highlighting the sameness.

for all intents and purposes the same

Indicates no effective difference.

cut from the same cloth

Idiomatic expression indicating fundamental similarity in nature or origin.

two peas in a pod

Idiomatic expression indicating being very similar.

FAQs

What does "perfectly alike" mean?

The phrase "perfectly alike" means that two or more things are completely or exactly similar to each other, to the point where there is no discernible difference.

How can I use "perfectly alike" in a sentence?

You can use "perfectly alike" to describe objects, people, or even ideas that share an extremely high degree of similarity. For example: "The twins were "exactly alike", making it difficult to tell them apart."

Are "perfectly alike" and "exactly the same" interchangeable?

While both phrases indicate a high degree of similarity, "perfectly alike" emphasizes the resemblance in appearance or nature, while "exactly the same" focuses on the identity or equivalence of the items being compared. They are often interchangeable, but consider the specific context.

What are some alternatives to "perfectly alike"?

Some alternatives to "perfectly alike" include "utterly alike", "exactly alike", indistinguishable, or "completely identical". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.