substantially dissimilar to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially dissimilar to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two or more items, indicating that they are significantly different from each other. Example: "The results of the experiment were substantially dissimilar to the initial hypothesis, leading to further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Our results indicate that diaspora firms are more likely to be exporters, to export more intensively and toward more destinations compared to domestic firms; in addition their export performance is not substantially dissimilar to that of MNEs.

World Development

Caution should be exercised in generalizing findings to individuals who are substantially dissimilar to the participants and their situations as described herein.

BMC Geriatrics

An important take-away message is that the CHO genome contains many proteins that are substantially dissimilar to the human genome from the T cell epitope standpoint, and thus inherently pose some risk of triggering anti-self immune responses.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The accumulative roll bonding process allows to produce multilayered composites in which substantially dissimilar metals, both in terms of Young's modulus as well as mechanical strength, can be brought together.

International Journal of Fatigue

Anthropometric measures that accurately represent the target user population are essential to effective designing for human variability, yet the available anthropometric data are drawn from populations that are substantially dissimilar from the target populations for most products and environments.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

These Departments had substantially dissimilar operational objectives, and the Ministers in charge had different political agendas.

BMC Health Services Research

Contrastingly, the probabilities calculated from RAD-seq data sets obtained with enzymes that showed weaker correlations between RS frequency and genome size (such as NotI, NgoMIV, and SgrAI) were substantially dissimilar (fig. 7 and supplementary fig. S4, Supplementary Material online).

Genome Biology and Evolution

The small between-area variance observed indicates that, unlike most other provinces which are much larger in geographic size and include very remote regions, community environments are not substantially dissimilar in Nova Scotia.

BMJ Open

It describes the area very well, I think – it's not too dissimilar to today.

The Guardian - Music

This is not dissimilar to some situations seen during oil and gas well blowouts.

Forbes

Not to dissimilar to Taarabt.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantially dissimilar to" to emphasize significant differences, ensuring the reader understands the distinction is meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially dissimilar to" when the differences are minor or superficial; instead, use phrases like "slightly different" or "somewhat similar".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially dissimilar to" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, indicating a significant degree of difference between two or more items. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase is used to highlight distinctions in various contexts, such as comparing diaspora firms to MNEs, or genomes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially dissimilar to" is a grammatically correct and usable way to express significant differences between two or more items. While the phrase is relatively rare in general usage, it's most commonly found in scientific and academic contexts. Ludwig's analysis and examples show that the phrase functions as a comparative adjective phrase, emphasizing notable distinctions. When writing, be sure to use "substantially dissimilar to" only when the differences are indeed substantial, and avoid overstating minor variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite dissimilar to

This alternative means 'not alike' to a high degree.

markedly different from

This alternative emphasizes a clear and noticeable difference.

significantly different from

This option highlights the importance or magnitude of the difference.

essentially unalike

This option focuses on the fundamental lack of likeness.

considerably unlike

This phrase indicates a notable lack of similarity.

distinctly disparate from

This alternative suggests a clear separation or divergence.

noticeably divergent from

This option highlights the act of moving away from a common point.

widely divergent from

This phrase indicates a broad or extensive difference.

largely unrelated to

This phrase indicates a minimal connection or association.

bearly resembling

This alternative emphasizes the weak visual similarities

FAQs

How to use "substantially dissimilar to" in a sentence?

Use "substantially dissimilar to" to compare two things that are significantly different, such as "The climate in the mountains is substantially dissimilar to that of the desert".

What can I say instead of "substantially dissimilar to"?

You can use alternatives like "markedly different from", "significantly different from", or "considerably unlike" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "substantially dissimilar to" or "substantially different than"?

"Substantially dissimilar to" is generally preferred. While "different than" is sometimes used, "different from" is considered more grammatically correct. Therefore, "substantially dissimilar to" aligns with this preference.

What's the difference between "substantially dissimilar to" and "slightly different from"?

"Substantially dissimilar to" indicates a significant degree of difference, whereas "slightly different from" suggests only a minor variation. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to convey.