rather the same as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather the same as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two things are quite similar or comparable in nature. Example: "The two proposals are rather the same as each other in terms of their objectives and expected outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But on present evidence, it is legitimate to wonder whether, once the pieces settle, Britain's place in the world might not look rather the same as it did before.

The Economist

Inactivation of Notch signaling preferentially induces mesodermal differentiation, or rather the same as the one caused by induction of Hes1, although Hes1 and Notch have the same effects in most other cell types (Kageyama et al. 2007).

Genes to Cells

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This all makes sense once you realize that swine flu isn't some sort of alien from outer space as we've been led to believe, but rather "the same subtype as seasonal A/H1N1 that has been circulating since 1977," as the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) observes.

Forbes

At full power the number of shocks was only 150 which is rather the same number as the one obtained using electrohydraulic machine generally considered as the gold standard.

Ultrasonics Sonochemistry

"Sherlock has already been played by 120 actors and it's rather the same thing as playing Hamlet.

The Guardian

I recall Tony Blair when in opposition calling for stakeholder capitalism, in rather the same vein as you are calling for capitalism with a conscience, but in practice very little happened.

The Guardian

As "friends of God", martyrs could intercede with Him on behalf of their devotees, in rather the same way as a patron in late Roman society mediated between the mighty and the powerless; the sick could thus find healing and the destitute comfort.

The Guardian - Opinion

The next stage is to add a receiver to tell the moth where to go.Moths may not be that bright, but Dr Hildebrand believes they can be manipulated in rather the same way as a donkey is by dangling a carrot in front of its head.

The Economist

A rather different example of this type of thinking is that of Samuel Alexander who thinks that the universe evolves in a steadily progressive manner and will finally 'attain deity', where deity is thought of as an unknown but superior quality that will 'emerge' from the complex whole in rather the same way as, at a lower level, consciousness 'emerges' from complex organisations of organic matter.

SEP

In 1950, Enrico Tortonese examined the Nice and Cayenne specimens of S. tudes (the Coromandel specimen having been lost in the interim) and concluded that they were not great hammerheads but rather the same species as S. bigelowi.

Wikipedia

Her name was Dolores Franco — her surname, which is rather common, being the same as the dictator's.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather the same as", ensure that you clarify the specific aspect or characteristic in which the two items are similar to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The process is rather the same as the previous one in terms of efficiency."

Common error

Avoid using "rather the same as" when there are significant differences between the two things being compared. This can mislead your audience and weaken your argument. Instead, acknowledge the differences and use a phrase like "similar to" or "related to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather the same as" functions as a comparative expression. It serves to highlight the similarity between two or more entities, situations, or concepts. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is generally acceptable in written English to express comparability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather the same as" is a useful phrase for indicating similarity, though not perfect identity. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is accurate and acceptable in English writing. It is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general writing, but should be used judiciously, avoiding overstatement of similarity. Remember to clarify the specific aspect of similarity to prevent ambiguity. Consider using more formal alternatives such as "substantially similar to" in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually identical to

Highlights near perfect similarity, stronger than the original phrase.

almost indistinguishable from

Emphasizes the difficulty in discerning differences, suggesting a close resemblance.

pretty much the same as

More informal, indicating general similarity.

broadly equivalent to

Focuses on the overall equivalence, overlooking minor differences.

largely similar to

Acknowledges potential minor differences while highlighting the major similarities.

much like

Simpler, more direct way of indicating similarity.

analogous to

Suggests a parallel or correspondence between the two things being compared.

comparable to

Highlights the ability to compare the items, suggesting they share key characteristics.

of a similar nature to

Formal way of indicating resemblance in kind or type.

akin to

Suggests a resemblance in spirit, character, or purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "rather the same as" in a sentence?

Use "rather the same as" to indicate that two things are quite similar in a specific aspect. For example, "The new policy is "rather the same as" the old one in terms of its core principles."

What's a more formal alternative to "rather the same as"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "substantially similar to" or "closely resembles" instead of "rather the same as".

Is there a subtle difference between "rather the same as" and "exactly the same as"?

"Rather the same as" implies a degree of similarity that might not be perfect, whereas "exactly the same as" indicates complete identity. The choice depends on the precision you want to convey.

What can I say instead of "rather the same as" to emphasize only partial similarity?

If you want to emphasize only partial similarity, you can use phrases like "somewhat similar to", "bears some resemblance to", or "analogous to".