to be the same as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be the same as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two things to indicate that they are identical or equivalent in some way. Example: "In this experiment, the results from the two methods are shown to be the same as each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He expects everyone to be the same as he is.

The Guardian - Sport

She wants to be the same as everyone else".

The Guardian - Music

"Immigration detention should not to be the same as prison.

Independent

"My goal is not to be the same as before.

The New York Times - Sports

No career is going to be the same as another career".

The Guardian - Music

Now, all students need to be the same as well; their futures safely predicted, managed, controlled.

The Guardian

"It's never going to be the same as it was before," she said.

The New York Times

And muons are likewise supposed to be the same as electrons.

The Guardian

"It's never going to be the same as it was," she said.

The New York Times

And do you want to be the same as every one else?

The Guardian - Music

So that's why I'm encouraging people to be the same as me".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be the same as" when you want to highlight the equivalence between two distinct entities or concepts. Be mindful of the specific context to ensure the phrase accurately conveys the intended level of similarity.

Common error

While "to be the same as" is generally acceptable, it may sound less formal than alternatives like "to be identical to" or "to be equivalent to" in academic or professional writing. Choose the most appropriate phrase to match the register of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be the same as" functions as a comparative phrase, indicating equivalence or similarity between two or more entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable. It's used to assert that items share similar characteristics or properties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

31%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be the same as" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to express equivalence or similarity. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. It's common across diverse contexts, from scientific literature to news articles, though slightly less formal than alternatives like "to be identical to". When using this phrase, be mindful of the context and choose the most appropriate phrasing to convey the intended degree of likeness. A potential error is overuse in strictly formal pieces, so consider using alternatives in those situations. The phrase appears frequently in scientific, news, and business-related content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be identical to

Focuses on exact correspondence, implying no difference whatsoever.

to be equivalent to

Suggests functional similarity, even if not exactly alike.

to correspond to

Indicates a close match or parallel between two things.

to be analogous to

Highlights a similarity based on a shared relationship or structure.

to resemble

Emphasizes visual or superficial likeness.

to mirror

Suggests a reflection or very close duplication.

to be on par with

Indicates equality in status, quality or performance.

to align with

Implies a similarity in direction, position, or support.

to be comparable to

Suggests that two things can be fairly compared due to similarities.

to approximate

Indicates a close but not exact resemblance.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "to be the same as"?

You can use alternatives like "to be identical to", "to be equivalent to", or "to correspond to" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "to be the same as"?

Yes, the phrase "to be the same as" is grammatically correct and widely used in English to indicate similarity or equivalence between two things.

How formal is the phrase "to be the same as"?

The phrase "to be the same as" is generally considered neutral in formality. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives like "to be identical to" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What is the difference between "to be the same as" and "to be similar to"?

"To be the same as" indicates that two things are identical or virtually indistinguishable. "To be similar to", on the other hand, indicates that two things share some characteristics but are not necessarily identical.