suchlike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suchlike" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to things of a similar kind or category, often in a general sense. Example: "We need to consider the costs of food, clothing, and suchlike when planning our budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So I have a method: I hear the word "Barclays" or suchlike, and I yell "Fuck off!" Very loudly.

The Guardian - Money

They also know which bits of the brain deal with vision, locomotion, language, memory and suchlike.

The Economist

Biologists will recognise it as the term for scuttling wingless insects—silverfish and suchlike.

The Economist

His staff are back in siege mentality, railing at Goldman Sachs and suchlike and furious with the IMF, whose request last week to inspect Japan's financial system got a dusty response.Even by Japanese standards, Mr Koizumi has shown himself to be remarkably insensitive to these market signals.

The Economist

Remember the matron who objects to Hester Prynne's scarlet letter: "Why, look you, she may cover it with a brooch, or suchlike heathenish adornment, and so walk the streets as brave as ever!"But voters appear to be comfortable on the high horse.

The Economist

Although the evidence consists of perkier business surveys rather than hard data on industrial production and suchlike, Europe's big economies (and the euro area as a whole) seem to be growing again.

The Economist

They tend to get negotiated away in local deals between officials and the managers of big state firms who have been given greater incentives to meet their economic targets, create jobs, raise output and suchlike.

The Economist

Special forces have probably been in Iraq for some time, scouting out targets, landing strips, bridges and suchlike.

The Economist

The fear is that Iraq could restart production of anthrax and other substances within weeks unless the inspectors are allowed to complete their job.Iraq and other countries suspected of trying to develop biological weapons often got their start in the business by ordering toxic microbes from western germ banks, ostensibly for the development of vaccines and suchlike.

The Economist

Moreover, a large chunk of spending on computers and suchlike is intended either to boost productivity or to replace obsolete equipment, not to increase capacity.

The Economist

But because some people do not plan their pregnancies, several countries require that the grains used to make bread, breakfast cereals and suchlike be fortified with folic acid.In this section A new growth industry?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suchlike" to avoid listing every item in a category when the context makes the meaning clear. For example, "Bring snacks, drinks, and suchlike for the picnic".

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, "suchlike" can sound informal or vague in highly formal writing. Opt for more precise language or specific examples when precision is critical.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "suchlike" is as a pronoun or adjective, serving to generalize or indicate items of a similar type to those already specified. Ludwig AI indicates that "suchlike" is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suchlike" is a frequently used term that functions as a pronoun or adjective to indicate items of a similar nature. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It's most common in news and media contexts and serves to avoid being overly specific or repetitive in a list. While generally acceptable, more formal writing may benefit from clearer or more specific alternatives. Common alternatives include "and the like" and "and similar things".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

and the like

A common and slightly more informal alternative.

or similar things

Offers an alternative option of similar nature.

and similar things

A more explicit way of indicating items of a similar kind.

and similar items

More specific and less ambiguous than "suchlike".

and so forth

Implies a continuation of a similar pattern or category.

and related items

Emphasizes a connection or relationship between the items.

and analogous things

Suggests a comparison based on analogy or resemblance.

and comparable items

Indicates items that can be directly compared in some aspect.

and things of that nature

A more formal way to refer to items of the same type.

and the rest

Implies that the remaining items are known or understood.

FAQs

How can I use "suchlike" in a sentence?

"Suchlike" is used to indicate items or things of a similar nature to those already mentioned. For instance, "We need to buy groceries, cleaning supplies, and "suchlike" for the house."

What are some alternatives to "suchlike"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "and the like", "and so forth", or "and similar things" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "suchlike" formal or informal?

"Suchlike" is generally considered informal. While it's acceptable in many contexts, it may not be appropriate for highly formal or academic writing.

What's the difference between "suchlike" and "etc."?

"Suchlike" is used to refer to things of a similar nature or category, while "etc." (et cetera) is a Latin abbreviation meaning "and so on". Both are used to avoid listing every item, but "suchlike" is less formal.