sufficiently similar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sufficiently similar" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing two things that share some similarities but not enough for them to be the same. For example, "The designs were somewhat similar, but not sufficiently similar to accuse the other of plagiarism."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Data will be summarised statistically when the data are available, sufficiently similar and of sufficient quality.

BMJ Open

When data was available, sufficiently similar and of sufficient quality, statistical analyses using STATA (StataCrop 9.2, Texas) were performed.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The two approaches are sufficiently similar for many purposes of planning and analysis.

Harvard Business Review

to ensure that correct results are identical or sufficiently similar to compare.

University of California, Berkeley

The reactivity of octanoic acid and oleic acid was found to be sufficiently similar (Supplementary Fig. 11).

Nature

Two phones are not said to realize the same phoneme unless they are sufficiently similar.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Overture considers Google's process sufficiently similar that it is suing for patent infringement.

The Economist

Placed near a planting of Heavenly Blue morning glories, the floral color is sufficiently similar to carry the family theme.

The New York Times - Arts

From this enormous amount of sameness, we think defendants' quilts sufficiently similar to plaintiffs' design as to demonstrate illegal copying.

Harvard University

On the other hand, eToys claims that etoy.com is sufficiently similar to its own name that it constitutes trademark infringement.

Harvard University

The fact that their brains are sufficiently similar to those of humans for the experiments to be worthwhile raises the question of whether they are sufficiently similar to deserve special protection.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sufficiently similar" to indicate that the degree of likeness meets a specific threshold or requirement, implying that the similarity is adequate for a particular purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "sufficiently similar" when the items being compared are only superficially alike. Ensure there's a genuine and meaningful resemblance that justifies the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficiently similar" functions as a qualifier, specifying the degree to which two or more entities share common attributes. It indicates that the likeness is not necessarily identical, but meets a certain threshold or requirement, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sufficiently similar" is a commonly used qualifier, indicating a degree of likeness that meets a particular requirement or threshold. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various fields, including science, news media, and academia. When using this phrase, clearly define the criteria for similarity to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "adequately similar" or "reasonably similar" exist, "sufficiently similar" implies a standard that needs to be met for valid comparison or application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequately similar

Emphasizes that the level of similarity is adequate for a specific purpose or requirement.

reasonably similar

Suggests a level of similarity that is fair and justifiable, though not necessarily perfect.

comparably similar

Highlights the similarity when comparing two or more things.

noticeably similar

Indicates that the similarity is easily observed or apparent.

virtually identical

Implies an almost complete or near-perfect match.

closely resemble

Focuses on the visual or superficial aspects of similarity.

bear resemblance

A more formal way of saying that things share similar qualities or features.

much alike

A simpler, more direct way of expressing strong similarity.

on a par

Suggests that items are not only similar, but also of equal standing or quality.

along the lines of

Indicates a general similarity in approach or style, rather than exact resemblance.

FAQs

How can I use "sufficiently similar" in a sentence?

You can use "sufficiently similar" to compare items that share enough common traits for a specific purpose. For example, "The two research methods were "sufficiently similar" to allow for a meta-analysis".

What are some alternatives to "sufficiently similar"?

You can use alternatives like "adequately similar", "reasonably similar", or "comparably similar" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "sufficiently similar" or "very similar"?

"Sufficiently similar" implies that the similarity meets a necessary threshold for a particular purpose, while "very similar" simply indicates a high degree of likeness. Choose based on whether the similarity needs to meet a specific requirement. "Sufficiently similar" implies a need for a likeness in something while "very similar" does not.

When is it inappropriate to use "sufficiently similar"?

It's inappropriate to use "sufficiently similar" if the items being compared share only superficial resemblances or if there's no clear reason why the similarity is important. Also, ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes ""sufficiently similar"" in your specific case.