quite identical

USAGE SUMMARY

'quite identical' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that two things are very similar or exactly the same. For example, "The two twins looked quite identical, even their mother couldn't tell them apart."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The morning and evening versions were not quite identical.

The New Yorker

Such lateral inhibition systems work because cells in a population are never quite identical to begin with.

Britannica

That person used a similar – though not quite identical – surname to yours, but a different first name and address.

Independent

The achievements are not quite identical, but they are close cousins, and the four-homer game is more unusual.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Glass's setting is quicker and lighter than Mr. Cohen's, and if Mr. Glass's and Mr. Cohen's melodies share common ground, they are not quite identical.

The New York Times - Arts

The spatially resolved measurements of soot and fluorescent soot precursors are quite identical (in shape and intensity) in the Diesel and in the second surrogate flames.

Proceedings of the Combustion Institute

Imprimis's alternative is a compound of two different drugs - pyrimethamine and leucovorin - and as such is not quite identical to Daraprim.

Independent

Here in America, after all, the pursuit of happiness has the status of a foundational right, coincident, but not quite identical, with material prosperity.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The second, narrow gallery is lined with closely spaced, not-quite-identical paintings all made by silk-screening silver paint onto silver through a lace tablecloth.

The New York Times

To sidestep the irs rule against wash sales, you either stay on the sidelines for 31 days or replace the loser with a not-quite-identical basket of securities.

Forbes

'Trainspotting 2' trailer shows the gang up to its not-quite-identical tricks.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase in technical writing, use concrete examples of quantifiable metrics to highlight the extent of the similarity

Common error

Avoid using "quite identical" if the items being compared have significant differences. Using it loosely can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite identical" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its degree of similarity or sameness to another entity. Ludwig highlights the validity of the expression for emphasizing resemblance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite identical" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates a high degree of similarity. According to Ludwig, the phrase is deemed correct and suitable for English writing. Primarily employed as an adjectival phrase, its purpose is to emphasize that two or more entities are nearly the same, often used to indicate functional equivalence. Usage is notably frequent across Scientific and News & Media contexts, while formal and business setting also benefit from its precision. When using "quite identical", ensure the comparison is accurate to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as ""nearly the same"" or ""virtually the same"" may be considered based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly the same

Implies a very close resemblance, but allows for minor differences.

essentially identical

Suggests that any variations are unimportant for the purpose at hand.

almost indistinguishable

Highlights the difficulty in perceiving any difference.

virtually the same

Emphasizes that any difference is negligible in practice.

markedly similar

Focuses on the significant similarities, while acknowledging potential minor differences.

substantially similar

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

strikingly alike

Highlights the noticeable similarity between two things.

closely analogous

Implies a similarity in function or structure, often used in technical contexts.

broadly equivalent

Suggests a general similarity in value or effect.

much the same

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

FAQs

How can I use "quite identical" in a sentence?

You can use "quite identical" to describe items that are nearly the same. For example, "The twins' fingerprints were "nearly the same", making it difficult to distinguish them."

What are some alternatives to using "quite identical"?

Alternatives include "virtually the same", "essentially identical", or "almost indistinguishable". The choice depends on the nuances you want to convey.

Is it better to say "quite identical" or "completely identical"?

"Completely identical" suggests an absolute match, while "quite identical" indicates a very high degree of similarity, but with a slight possibility of minor differences. The best choice depends on the level of precision you need.

In what contexts is "quite identical" most appropriate?

"Quite identical" is appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize a strong similarity, such as in scientific comparisons, product descriptions, or when discussing near-duplicates.