substantially alike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially alike" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that are very similar or comparable in significant ways. Example: "The two proposals are substantially alike, making it difficult to choose between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Though very different in their backgrounds and political circumstances, the three were substantially alike in their tactics.

The New Yorker

The concentration profiles at different levels and for a series of flow rates have been plotted dimensionlessly showing them to be substantially alike in shape, this plot has been well fitted with a simple expression [1].

Chemical Engineering Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This indicates that over a wide range of characteristics, miRNA hairpins within (related) species are substantially more alike than miRNA hairpin sequences between less-related species.

BMC Genomics

The proportion of respondents who did not consume any servings of fruits increased by at least 10 percentage points while the proportion that consumed 5 or more servings of fruits decreased substantially among males and females alike.

Globalization and Health

With many still amateurs and competing against one another to win the favor of audiences and aggregators alike, the stakes are substantially higher.

TechCrunch

Mr. Smithee said the Texas law had been "a real success story," substantially fair to H.M.O.'s and consumers alike.

The New York Times

Such metrics would be a major step toward confronting the sustainability challenge in global land use, but developing, harmonizing, maintaining, and sharing these datasets related will require substantially investments from scientists and funding organizations alike.

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

The association of these hydrated amino acid residues with cations would substantially contribute to the stability and solubility of LipC or alike halophilic enzymes in high salt or solvent deprived environments.

Plosone

Northern Ireland, like the Republic, benefits substantially from its relationship with the EU, and nationalists and unionists alike are worried about the loss of EU subsidies and markets.

The Guardian - Books

It will also be necessary to revise management-compensation plans substantially and to raise performance criteria for CEOs and board members alike so that only active, engaged directors remain.

Forbes

Not substantially.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially alike", ensure that the subjects being compared have enough overlap to justify the comparison. Avoid applying it to items with only superficial similarities.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially alike" when the items being compared have only minor or superficial similarities. Using the phrase inaccurately can mislead your reader about the true relationship between the subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially alike" functions as a descriptive term, modifying nouns or noun phrases to indicate a significant degree of similarity. It suggests that while not identical, the items being compared share key characteristics. As Ludwig shows, it commonly appears in contexts requiring precise comparisons.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially alike" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate a significant degree of similarity. While not very frequent, it appears in both scientific and news contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and it's important to use this phrase accurately, ensuring that the compared items indeed share substantial characteristics. Remember, this phrase is best suited for formal settings where precision is valued.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely similar

Emphasizes that the items share many, but not necessarily all, characteristics.

considerably similar

Highlights a significant degree of similarity.

mostly the same

Indicates a high degree of equivalence, but allows for minor differences.

virtually identical

Suggests an almost perfect match, with minimal perceptible differences.

comparable to a great extent

Formal alternative, indicating a noteworthy level of comparability.

akin to

Highlights a resemblance or affinity between the subjects.

broadly similar

Indicates similarity in general terms, without focusing on specific details.

closely related

Suggests a strong connection or shared origin, implying similarity.

not unlike

A more subtle way of indicating similarity, often used for comparison.

cut from the same cloth

Idiomatic expression that implies a common origin, nature or shared set of attributes.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially alike" in a sentence?

"Substantially alike" is used to indicate that two or more things are very similar in most important aspects. For example: "Although the two reports used different methodologies, their conclusions were "substantially alike"."

What's the difference between "substantially alike" and "identical"?

"Substantially alike" implies a high degree of similarity, but not perfect equivalence. "Identical", on the other hand, means exactly the same. If two things are "substantially alike", there may be minor differences, but if they're identical, there are no differences.

What are some alternatives to "substantially alike"?

Alternatives to "substantially alike" include phrases like "largely similar", "mostly the same", or "comparable to a great extent", depending on the level of similarity you wish to convey.

Is "substantially alike" formal or informal language?

"Substantially alike" is generally considered formal language, suitable for academic, professional, or technical writing. In more casual contexts, simpler phrases like "very similar" or "pretty much the same" might be more appropriate.