similar of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'similar of' is not correct and is not usable in written English.
Instead, you could use 'similar to' in order to express a comparison between two things. For example, "This book is similar to the one I read last week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Only 40% said something similar of John Roberts.

The Economist

Lots of historical novels do something similar, of course.

The New York Times - Books

Many were eerily similar – of being trapped in a building, having to fight their way out.

The Guardian

Those are not the only ways the teams are similar, of course.

The New York Times - Sports

Something similar, of which Mr Osborne is symptomatic, may now start to happen on the Tory side over the coming decade.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We'd done a string of stories that were all interesting for their own reasons, but they started to feel similar, of a piece," he said.

The New Yorker

After finishing her memoirs of her time in office, she may opt to do some charitable work, either for Bill Clinton's foundation or start something similar of her own.

The Guardian

Something similar, of course, always happens in the wake of religious wars; the great mosque of Córdoba, in Spain, for example, was transformed into a Roman Catholic cathedral after the Christian reconquest in the 15th century.

The New York Times - Arts

He beams with pride at the mention of a comment his mother made saying that he is the most similar of her four children to their father, independent and artistic.

Independent

The President then issued a series of demands that made his failure to ask anything similar of the Saudis during his trip to Riyadh, several weeks ago, all the more glaring, calling on Havana to "end to the abuse of dissidents, release political prisoners, stop jailing innocent people, open yourselves up to political and economic freedoms".

The New Yorker

This is the year of sympathising with Jennifer Garner, not some nanny-diddling Ben Affleck type; of applauding Susan Sarandon for dating a much younger man and looking down on Mel Gibson for doing something similar; of #TeamAmberRose (and her VMA outfit) and deleting Wiz Khalifa off your iPhone.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "similar to" instead of "similar of" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "of" after "similar"; the correct preposition is "to". Saying "similar of" is a common grammatical error that can detract from your writing's credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "similar of" functions incorrectly as a prepositional phrase. Grammatically, it's intended to express a comparison but fails to do so accurately. Ludwig AI identifies this as an error, advising against its use.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "similar of" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in all forms of writing. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "similar to", which accurately conveys the intended meaning of resemblance or likeness. Using the incorrect phrase can detract from the clarity and credibility of your writing. Remember to use "similar to" to ensure your message is communicated effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

similar to

This is the most direct and grammatically correct replacement, indicating a likeness between two things.

much like

A simpler and more informal way to express similarity.

akin to

Implies a resemblance in spirit or quality, suggesting a deeper connection than just superficial similarity.

comparable to

Highlights that things can be compared and found to have notable similarities.

reminiscent of

Suggests that something evokes memories or feelings of something else due to shared qualities.

bears resemblance to

A more formal way of saying that something looks or seems like something else.

analogous to

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

shares characteristics with

Focuses on the common traits or features between two subjects.

in the same vein as

Suggests a similarity in style, approach, or theme.

related to

A broad term indicating a connection or association, which can include similarity.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "similar" in a sentence?

The correct usage is "similar to". For example, "This car is "similar to" the one I used to own".

What is a common mistake people make when using the word "similar"?

A frequent error is using "of" instead of "to" after "similar". Always remember it's "similar to", not "similar of".

What are some alternatives to saying "similar to"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "akin to", "comparable to", or "reminiscent of".

Is there a difference in meaning between "similar to" and "the same as"?

Yes, "similar to" implies a likeness but not exact correspondence, while "the same as" indicates an exact match.