the very same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the very same" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to emphasize that two things are exactly identical. For example: "I was wearing the very same shirt I wore yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The very same problem.

The New York Times

Yes, the very same.

The New York Times - Books

Born on the very same day Feb.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And on the very same morning.

The New Yorker

Anderson was undertaking the very same thing.

The New Yorker

The very same, dear reader.

The Guardian - Sport

The very same can be said today.

The Guardian

But a Republican president will face the very same choices and the very same American citizenry.

The New York Times

The very same could have been said of Borussia Dortmund.

The Guardian - Sport

And so the very same thing happened again.

The New Yorker

Pity them, but for the very same reason – pity us.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "the very same" to link back to an earlier point or object in your text to reinforce a connection or identity.

Common error

Avoid using "the very same" when only a close similarity is intended. "Similar" or "nearly identical" are more appropriate when there are slight, but important, differences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the very same" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically an adjectival phrase, that modifies a noun to indicate that it is identical to another noun previously mentioned or understood. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the very same" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize that two things are absolutely identical. Ludwig AI highlights that it is common in diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and formal business settings. While phrases like "exactly the same" or "precisely the same" can serve as alternatives, "the very same" provides a distinctive emphasis on complete equivalence. The key takeaway is to employ this phrase when you want to remove any doubt about whether two things are not just similar, but one and the same.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exactly the same

Replaces "very" with "exactly" for emphasis on the identical nature.

precisely the same

Substitutes "very" with "precisely" to highlight the exactness of the similarity.

identically the same

Uses "identically" to reinforce the concept of being the same in every aspect.

the selfsame

Employs an archaic form to denote something is the very same.

that very one

Focuses on a specific item or instance that is identical.

the identical one

Replaces "same" with "identical" emphasizing that no differences exist.

the spitting image

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of being exactly alike.

a carbon copy

Analogizes being the same to a duplicate created through carbon copying.

the duplicate

Specifies that something is an exact copy or replica.

the equivalent

Highlights that two things have equal value or function, suggesting sameness in purpose or effect.

FAQs

How can I use "the very same" in a sentence?

Use "the very same" to emphasize that two things are identical. For instance, "He wore "the very same suit" to both interviews."

What phrases can I use instead of "the very same"?

Alternatives include "exactly the same", "precisely the same", or "identically the same" to emphasize complete equivalence.

Is there a difference between "the same" and "the very same"?

"The same" indicates similarity, while "the very same" emphasizes that it is the identical thing or instance, adding a layer of precision.

When is it appropriate to use "the very same" in writing?

Use "the very same" when you want to highlight an exact match, rather than just a similarity. For example, "She used "the very same recipe" her grandmother used" to stress it's identical.