which is virtually identical to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which is virtually identical to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that two things are almost the same or have no significant differences. Example: "The new model has a design which is virtually identical to the previous version, making it easy for users to adapt."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Leahy's office sent us its own copy of the nearly 4,000-word 4,000-wordh is virtually identical to what memonda sent Kavanaugh.

The Washington Post

His comfort level in the offense, which is virtually identical to the one he ran in Green Bay, is obvious, as if he has slipped into a familiar pair of the blue jeans he endorses.

The New York Times

Inspired by Vega Sicilia, he determined to make wine in his own style, using only local grapes, especially tinto fino, which is virtually identical to the tempranillo grape of the Rioja.

The New York Times - Food

Though dominated by Russian-speakers, around 40% of the population in Trans-Dniester have Moldovan - which is virtually identical to Romanian - as a first language.

BBC

Best Buy announced to the world that it was implementing its own buyback program — called the Buy Back Plan ("BBP") — which is virtually identical to TechForward's Guaranteed Buyback Plan in its program structure, marketing materials and terms and conditions.

TechCrunch

It is important to note that Justi and Roazzi (2012) reported a Cronbach's alpha of 0.65 for this task, which is virtually identical to the 0.64 Cronbach's alpha reported by Mota, Gontijo et al. (2008).

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Petitioners Gelbard and Parnas and respondents Egan and Walsh occupy positions which are virtually identical to that of the Silverthornes and their company.

Cornell University

Progress ships, which are virtually identical to the Soyuz spacecraft used to carry Russians to space for about 30 years, arrive as cargo ships and depart as garbage scows.

The New York Times

To this aim, rats of the sNP and Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) lines were exposed to a 108-day sucrose-fading procedure, which was virtually identical to that previously used with NP and P rats.

Alcohol

"I bought this restaurant 16 years ago thinking that one day we'd have casinos here, but I had no idea what it would take to make it happen," said Jimmy Carpenito, at a party for the workers who built the new casino, which will feature 1,800 video lottery terminals, which are virtually identical to slot machines.

The New York Times

This data demonstrate that N. cinerea had deleted the coding sequence for lst, as it possesses flanking DNA sequences which are virtually identical to those seen in the pathogens.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which is virtually identical to" to precisely convey that two entities are so similar that any differences are negligible. This is especially useful in technical or scientific writing where accuracy is paramount.

Common error

Avoid using "which is virtually identical to" when there are noticeable differences between the subjects being compared. Overstating similarity can mislead your audience; instead, opt for a phrase that acknowledges the differences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which is virtually identical to" functions as a relative clause modifying a noun or noun phrase. It provides additional, non-essential information by indicating that the modified element shares a near-perfect similarity with something else, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

41%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which is virtually identical to" serves as a powerful tool for denoting near-perfect similarity, frequently appearing in science and news media, and, to a lesser extent, in academia. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for formal contexts. When aiming for utmost accuracy, remember to employ it when the entities are almost indistinguishable. Alternative options such as "almost the same as" or "practically identical to" offer similar precision. Steer clear of exaggerating likenesses to maintain credibility. In essence, "which is virtually identical to" is best reserved for instances where differences are truly negligible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost the same as

Emphasizes near equivalence but allows for minor differences.

practically identical to

Highlights the functional equivalence despite any superficial differences.

nearly identical to

Focuses on the close resemblance with minimal variation.

virtually the same as

Stresses the lack of significant distinction between the subjects.

essentially identical to

Indicates that the core aspects are indistinguishable.

tantamount to

Suggests that the subjects are equal in effect or value.

indistinguishable from

Highlights the difficulty in discerning any differences.

akin to

Implies a similarity in nature or qualities but may suggest a slightly weaker connection.

comparable to

Suggests similarities sufficient for comparison, but not necessarily complete identity.

analogous to

Indicates a similarity in some respects, often used to explain a complex concept.

FAQs

How can I use "which is virtually identical to" in a sentence?

You can use "which is virtually identical to" to compare two things and highlight their near-perfect similarity. For example, "The software update has a user interface "which is virtually identical to" the previous version."

What's a good alternative to "which is virtually identical to"?

Consider using alternatives like "almost the same as", "practically identical to", or "nearly identical to" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "that is virtually identical to" instead of "which is virtually identical to"?

Yes, you can use "that is virtually identical to", especially when introducing a restrictive clause. However, "which is virtually identical to" is suitable for non-restrictive clauses, adding extra information about something already identified.

What is the difference between "which is virtually identical to" and "that is similar to"?

"Which is virtually identical to" indicates a very high degree of similarity, almost indistinguishable. In contrast, "that is similar to" implies some resemblance but allows for more noticeable differences. The phrase "that is similar to" suggests a weaker connection.