practically exactly the same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically exactly the same" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that two things are very similar or indistinguishable from one another, with a slight nuance suggesting that there may be minor differences. Example: "The two designs are practically exactly the same, with only a few color variations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Knox explained that the attitude of the State Department toward Moroccan affairs is practically exactly the same now as at the time of the Algeciras Conference, and that the Government's interest is confined to a desire to see the principle of equal opportunity preserved in the development and exploitation of the rich possibilities of the Moroccan territory.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet somehow, only a few years later, waving, wearing or generally wallowing in the flag was practically compulsory in exactly the same circles.

The Guardian - Opinion

As one might say, 'You'll be next.' " "I am practically sure it is exactly the same story," he added, "and I think it is not one person — but I don't want to, and cannot, talk about this now because there is a serious investigation.

The New York Times - Arts

Since it is practically impossible to reproduce exactly the same manoeuvre, first on the motorcycle and then on the simulator, the comparison between real and simulated manoeuvres is more meaningful when based on the ratio Gx/τ between the roll rate (which represents the vehicle behaviour) and the steering torque (which represents the rider action).

European Transport Research Review

Due to the regional location of the bicycle paths, it was not practically possible to produce exactly the same proportion of off-road paths for each participant; therefore, as expected, there was a range in the distribution of path type within HIGH and LOW.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

We analyze two scenarios described below: ● The legitimate source and the opponent have identical printing devices; practically, this means that they use exactly the same printing setup.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

The prediction rate of backpropagation was practically identical to that of LVQ, with exactly the same specificity and a slightly higher sensitivity.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

This does not mean we should not look practically at each case, as not every one is exactly the same.

Huffington Post

It was exactly the same.

The New York Times

They look exactly the same.

The New York Times - Travel

"Michael Clarke is exactly the same".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "practically exactly the same" when you want to emphasize a very high degree of similarity while acknowledging that subtle differences might exist.

Common error

Avoid using "practically exactly the same" when there are significant or consequential differences between the items being compared; instead, consider alternatives like "broadly similar" or "analogous".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically exactly the same" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the degree to which two things are similar. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. It emphasizes a high level of similarity with a slight allowance for negligible differences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

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 "practically exactly the same" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to convey a very high degree of similarity between two or more things. While acknowledging subtle differences, it emphasizes near equivalence. It finds use in both News & Media and Scientific contexts and is best suited for situations where precise yet nuanced comparisons are necessary. When absolute identity is not the case, but near-identity is crucial, "practically exactly the same" serves as a valuable linguistic tool.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually identical

Implies a very close similarity, almost to the point of being indistinguishable.

almost identical

Indicates a high degree of similarity, with only minor differences.

nearly the same

Suggests a close resemblance, but allows for some variation.

essentially the same

Highlights that the core aspects are alike, even if details differ.

pretty much the same

An informal way of saying that two things are very similar.

tantamount to

Indicates equivalence in effect or value, though not necessarily in appearance.

for all practical purposes, the same

Highlights that differences are irrelevant in real-world situations.

effectively identical

Indicates that the outcome or function is the same, regardless of other differences.

much alike

A general term for things that share many similarities.

akin to

Suggests a resemblance or similarity in quality or character.

FAQs

What does "practically exactly the same" mean?

The phrase "practically exactly the same" suggests that two or more things are almost identical, with any differences being negligible or inconsequential.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "practically exactly the same"?

Use "practically exactly the same" when you want to emphasize the near-identity of things but acknowledge minor variations. Consider alternatives like "virtually identical" or "almost identical" if the differences are truly minimal.

What are some alternatives to "practically exactly the same"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "nearly the same", "essentially the same", or "pretty much the same".

Is there a difference between "practically the same" and "practically exactly the same"?

Yes, "practically exactly the same" intensifies the similarity, implying an even closer match than "practically the same". The inclusion of "exactly" emphasizes that the differences are truly minimal.