sings like

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sings like" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to make comparisons, often in a simile, to describe someone’s singing ability or style in relation to something else. Example: "She sings like an angel, captivating everyone in the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Music

Arts

Literature

Personal Communication

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She "sings like a doll".

The New York Times - Books

or sings like a crow.

The New Yorker

The actress sings like a nightingale.

The New York Times

But she sings like an angel.

The Guardian

"And sometimes he sings like an old woman".

The New Yorker

I have one bird that sings like a friend.

The New York Times

Strummer often sings like he's auditioning for Steptoe & Son.

The Guardian - Music

"He sings like an older brother with a dark side.

The Guardian - Music

"He also sings like a motherfucker!" Johansen said.

The New Yorker

It is huge, fat and sings like a dream.

The New York Times - Food

He sings like an angel and he's willing to experiment.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sings like" to create vivid comparisons, helping your audience imagine the sound more clearly. For instance, instead of just saying someone is a good singer, say "she sings like an angel".

Common error

Avoid using "sings like" with vague or unclear comparisons. Saying someone "sings like music" doesn't provide any specific information about their singing style or quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sings like" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a comparative expression. It is used to describe the manner or quality of someone's singing by drawing a comparison to something else, often using a simile. Ludwig confirms this is a common and acceptable usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Music

15%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sings like" is a versatile and widely used expression to draw comparisons about someone's singing style or vocal quality. As Ludwig AI explains, it's considered grammatically correct and appears frequently across various contexts, especially in news and media, music, and the arts. This construction helps writers convey the nuances of a vocal performance by relating it to something familiar or evocative. While highly effective, it's crucial to ensure that the comparison is clear and relevant to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "sounds like" or "has a voice like" can offer subtle differences in emphasis, further enriching descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sounds like

Focuses on the auditory impression of the singing.

has a voice like

Emphasizes the overall vocal quality, not just the act of singing.

sings in a similar way to

Emphasizes the similarity in vocal performance.

sings in the style of

Highlights the stylistic resemblance to another singer or genre.

sings with the quality of

Highlights the shared characteristics in voice.

vocal performance resembles

More formal way to point out a similarity in singing.

sings as if

Describes the perceived emotion or state conveyed through the singing.

sings akin to

A more formal and less common synonym.

echoes the sound of

Highlights the sound and intonation likeness of a song.

sings with the likeness of

Suggests a comparable voice style.

FAQs

How can I use "sings like" in a sentence?

Use "sings like" to compare someone's singing to something else, such as "She "sings like an angel"" or "He "sings like a professional"".

What are some alternatives to "sings like"?

You can use phrases like "sounds like", "has a voice like", or "sings in the style of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "sings like" or "sounds like"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "sings like" focuses specifically on the act of singing, while "sounds like" refers to the overall auditory impression, which may include speaking or other noises.

What does it mean when someone says a singer "sings like a bird"?

Saying someone "sings like a bird" usually means they have a beautiful, clear, and melodious voice, similar to the pleasant sounds birds make.