potentially the same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "potentially the same" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing possibilities or similarities between two or more items, situations, or concepts. Example: "The two solutions may be potentially the same in terms of effectiveness, but further testing is required."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Three years after the collapse of global stock prices, America too is starting to wrestle with what is potentially the same set of thorny problems.

The New York Times

"Potentially the same good things could have happened to Jarod at the Palo Alto V.A.," said Dr. Loverso, a former V.A. employee himself.

The New York Times

"We're working with Marisa Tomei in potentially the same way that Jane Fonda worked with aerobics," said William S. Sondheim, president of entertainment and distribution at Gaiam.

The New York Times

This includes a bill for Manchester of around £10m – made up of £5m in policing and potentially the same amount in payments under the 1886 Riots Damages Act (RDA) to individuals whose properties are damaged by rioting.

The Guardian

Instead of signing new deals with tech firms, police departments with Axon body cameras could push facial-recognition features to its officers in potentially the same way they apply a software update.

The Washington Post

(More on her below). Twenty-seven-year-old María Grand shows potentially the same uniqueness to the tenor saxophone: She navigates dense rhythmic and harmonic paths with warmth and compelling mystery.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

We could potentially do the same with guns.

Independent

"I would potentially pay the same for a plan that's significantly better," he said.

The New York Times

Political turmoil in Venezuela has disrupted markets and a conflict with Iraq would potentially do the same.

The New York Times

But if he does, federal ethics advisers said, the self-described billionaire could potentially reap the same tax advantage.

The Washington Post

In Roman Shirokov – "the Joey Barton of Russian football" – they have a player who can potentially make the same impact on this tournament as Andrey Arshavin did four years ago.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality required by your audience; while "potentially the same" is generally acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from synonyms like "possibly identical" or "arguably similar".

Common error

Avoid using "potentially the same" when you have definitive proof that two things are, in fact, the same. In such cases, use stronger phrases like "identical" or "the same".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "potentially the same" functions as a qualifier, adding a degree of uncertainty or possibility to the idea of sameness. It suggests that something might be identical or equivalent, but this hasn't been definitively proven. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "potentially the same" is a versatile phrase used to express a cautious similarity or equivalence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse contexts. Its frequency in news, scientific, and academic sources underscores its suitability for both formal and neutral registers. When using this phrase, remember that it conveys a degree of uncertainty, so avoid it when definitive proof exists. Consider alternatives such as "possibly identical" or "arguably similar" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possibly identical

Replaces "potentially" with "possibly" and "the same" with "identical", emphasizing a degree of uncertainty and exact equivalence.

seemingly identical

Indicates that two things give the impression of being the same.

maybe equivalent

Uses "maybe" for potentiality and "equivalent" for sameness, offering a more informal tone.

conceivably alike

Substitutes "potentially" with "conceivably" and "the same" with "alike", highlighting a possibility of resemblance.

arguably similar

Replaces "potentially" with "arguably" and "the same" with "similar", introducing an element of debate or opinion.

virtually indistinguishable

Expresses a high degree of similarity to the point where the elements become hard to tell apart.

ostensibly equal

Uses "ostensibly" to imply a surface-level appearance of sameness, while "equal" suggests a precise equivalence.

functionally equivalent

Stresses that two or more entities perform the same purpose, and are therefore equivalent.

the same in theory

Focuses on a theoretical sameness, suggesting it may not hold in practice.

analogous perhaps

Highlights the analogy between two things, leaving room for doubt.

FAQs

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

You can use "potentially the same" to suggest a similarity or equivalence that is not yet confirmed, as in "The two solutions may be "potentially the same" in terms of effectiveness, but further testing is required."

What's a more formal way to say "potentially the same"?

For more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "possibly identical", "arguably similar", or "ostensibly equal" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "potentially the same" differ from "actually the same"?

"Potentially the same" indicates a possibility or likelihood of sameness, while "actually the same" confirms that the sameness is a verified fact. Use "potentially" when there's uncertainty or a need for further verification.

Can "potentially the same" be used to describe abstract concepts?

Yes, "potentially the same" can be used to describe abstract concepts. For example, "These two theories might be "potentially the same", differing only in their terminology."