reasonably equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonably equal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a comparison or balance between two or more items, indicating that they are similar to a fair extent. Example: "The two proposals are reasonably equal in terms of cost and benefits, making it difficult to choose one over the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

This idea and ideal of a middle-class society makes sense when incomes are reasonably equal.

The Washington Post

Before commencing, the student draughtsman should try and estimate the areas covered by the views so that they can be presented with reasonably equal spaces horizontally and vertically on the drawing sheet.

Manual of Engineering Drawing

(Devices were worn on an opt-in basis, and individual data were anonymous and unavailable to employers.) Pentland identified three key elements of successful communication: exploration (interacting with people in many other social groups), engagement (interacting with people within your social group, in reasonably equal doses), and energy (interacting with more people overall).

Harvard Business Review

Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 Established the doctrine of "separate but equal," which held that racial segregation of African Americans and whites in public facilities did not violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as long as the facilities for the two groups were reasonably equal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The TGA curves of the samples containing 1 and 2.5 % MWCNTs overlap and have reasonably equal intensities (Fig. 6).

Nanoscale Research Letters

But this requires a reasonably equal field of players who have the ability to influence decisions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

If the Christian schools' ambition and discipline attracted secular parents and the endorsement of the political elite, non-Christian faiths quite reasonably demanded equal access to state support.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet, the number of reasonably gender-equal partnerships and contexts is increasing [ 31, 32].

BMC Public Health

In the case of a project principally involving the installation of an intelligent transportation system, eligible project costs shall be reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $15,000,000.

Cornell University

In the case of a project described in section 601(a)(12)(E), eligible project costs shall be reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $10,000,000.

Cornell University

On the assumption that any persistent misinformation is not as much a matter of public knowledge as Paris Hilton's antics, one could reasonably expect that equal time is the fittest remedy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reasonably equal" when you want to convey that items or concepts are similar or equivalent to a fair degree, but not necessarily perfectly identical.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonably equal" when you actually mean "identical" or "exactly the same". "Reasonably equal" implies a degree of approximation or tolerance, so don't use it if precise equality is required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably equal" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that two or more things are similar or equivalent to a certain extent, but not necessarily perfectly identical. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reasonably equal" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to express approximate equivalence or similarity, as confirmed by Ludwig. It strikes a balance between formal and informal registers, making it suitable for various contexts, including news reporting, business, and academic writing. While not as precise as "exactly equal", it conveys a sufficient degree of similarity where strict equality is not required. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, and scientific contexts. When using "reasonably equal", remember that you want to convey items or concepts are similar or equivalent to a fair degree, but not necessarily perfectly identical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly comparable

Emphasizes similarity in a way that suggests fairness in comparison.

relatively similar

Highlights the similarity while acknowledging potential differences.

roughly equivalent

Suggests a close but not necessarily exact level of equivalence.

adequately balanced

Focuses on the balance between elements, implying sufficient equilibrium.

moderately alike

Indicates a medium degree of similarity between items.

acceptably uniform

Implies that items are sufficiently consistent for a given purpose.

substantially proportionate

Highlights that elements are in a good relation, with the emphasis on proportions.

somewhat identical

Highlights that elements are similar but not 100%.

comparatively consistent

Underlines the element of similarity, although there are differences.

essentially the same

Focuses on the idea that elements are quite similar but may present minor differences.

FAQs

How can I use "reasonably equal" in a sentence?

You can use "reasonably equal" to describe items or quantities that are similar but not identical. For example, "The two options are reasonably equal in terms of cost." Alternatives include "fairly comparable" or "relatively similar".

What's the difference between "reasonably equal" and "exactly equal"?

"Reasonably equal" implies an approximation or tolerance, while "exactly equal" means there is no difference. Use "reasonably equal" when precision isn't critical; use "exactly equal" when it is.

Which is correct, "reasonably equal" or "reasonably equivalent"?

Both "reasonably equal" and "reasonably equivalent" are correct, and their meanings are similar. "Equivalent" may imply a stronger degree of similarity, but in many contexts, they are interchangeable.

Are there contexts where it's inappropriate to use "reasonably equal"?

Yes, avoid using "reasonably equal" in formal or scientific contexts where precise measurements or data are involved. In these cases, opt for more specific terms like "approximately equal" or provide a margin of error.