substantially equivalent to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially equivalent to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts such as legal, scientific, or technical discussions to indicate that two items or concepts are similar in significant ways. Example: "The new product is considered substantially equivalent to the existing model, meeting all necessary safety standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

ObTape was deemed substantially equivalent to an existing sling, which in turn had been deemed substantially equivalent to an older sling.

The New York Times

The FDA has ruled that they are substantially equivalent to conventionally grown varieties.

The Guardian - Opinion

Democrats insist that the state laws must be at least substantially equivalent to the federal standards.

The New York Times

Assurance of coverage "substantially equivalent" to U.C. was downgraded to an "industry standard" in 2008.

The New York Times

So lawmakers provided the quick review process for any new product deemed "substantially equivalent" to something already on the market.

The New York Times - Health

In a report a fortnight ago, it claimed the treaty was substantially equivalent to the rejected constitution.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

It is of course desirable to try to find alternatives that have substantially equivalent properties to fossil oil since much of the infrastructure needed is already in place, i.e. the combustion engines, power stations and the petrochemical industry.

European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology

Although VA has its limitations, it has been shown on a large scale that standardised VA interviews with automatic processing of causes of death achieve substantially equivalent findings to VAs assessed by physicians (44).

Global Health Action

The big problem, the study found, is that the federal law that created the 510(k) pathway, the Medical Device Amendments of 1976, required the makers of those products only to show that they were "substantially equivalent," or similar, to one already on the market.

The New York Times

Before implantation into humans the new Memory Metal Spinal System must be proven to be at least substantially equivalent in performance and safety to current deformity systems.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Rather, CDRH evaluates a material within the context of the technological characteristics of the device along with the intended use and determines if the device's intended use and technological characteristics (including the materials) are substantially equivalent in safety and effectiveness to a legally marketed device.

3D Printing in Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially equivalent to", ensure that you can provide specific evidence or data to support the claim of equivalence. This makes your argument more credible and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially equivalent to" when there are notable or significant differences between the items being compared. Misrepresenting equivalence can lead to misunderstanding or distrust.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially equivalent to" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, typically used to assert that one item or concept is sufficiently similar to another, often in terms of function, performance, or value. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially equivalent to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative adjective phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is correct and usable. It is used to indicate a significant degree of similarity, although not necessarily complete identity, between two items or concepts. Primarily appearing in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, its purpose is to establish comparability for practical or legal reasons. When using the phrase, ensure that there is justifiable evidence to support the claim of equivalence, as overstating equivalence can be misleading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for all intents and purposes equivalent to

Emphasizes that the differences are negligible in practical terms.

essentially identical to

Suggests a near-perfect match with minimal differences.

effectively equal to

Highlights functional equivalence, even if structural differences exist.

largely analogous to

Emphasizes similarity in function or structure, but might not imply perfect interchangeability.

nearly the same as

Highlights the close proximity in characteristics or qualities.

virtually interchangeable with

Suggests that either option can be used without significant consequence.

almost indistinguishable from

Focuses on the difficulty in discerning any differences between the two.

tantamount to

Implies equivalence in effect or value, often used in legal or formal contexts.

comparable to a great extent with

Indicates a significant degree of similarity suitable for comparison.

closely resembles

Stresses the visual or superficial similarities.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially equivalent to" in a sentence?

Use "substantially equivalent to" to indicate that two items, concepts, or standards are similar in function, effect, or value, even if they are not exactly the same. For instance: "The generic drug is "substantially equivalent to" the brand-name version".

What's the difference between ""substantially equivalent to"" and "identical to"?

"Substantially equivalent to" suggests a high degree of similarity but allows for minor differences, while "identical to" implies that there are no differences whatsoever.

Which is correct: "substantially equivalent with" or ""substantially equivalent to""?

The correct phrasing is ""substantially equivalent to"". Using "with" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

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

You can use alternatives like "largely analogous to", "essentially identical to", or "nearly the same as" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.