English UsageGrammar guide

Similar To: Standard Pattern

Similar To: Standard Pattern replaces an already-owned preliminary Opposed intent with a directly documented, distinct construction page rather than reviving the earlier unsupported Similar To/With contrast.

Quick answer

Cambridge Grammar explicitly gives “similar to” as the pattern for comparing things that are alike but not entirely the same.

Key details

Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familycomparison complement
Termssimilar to

Further guidance

Construction

Cambridge Grammar explicitly lists similar to as the pattern.

Style Boundary

This guide records the supported construction only; it does not manufacture a parallel similar-with rule.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Same, similar, identical — Cambridge Dictionary Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge Grammar evidence that similar and identical use the patterns similar to and identical to.

Related guides

English Usage

Identical To: Standard Pattern

Identical To: Standard Pattern combines dictionary and grammar evidence for the directly documented identical-to construction without forcing an unsupported identical-with comparison page.

English Usage

Inferior To: Standard Pattern

Inferior To: Standard Pattern records the directly documented complement and avoids manufacturing a two-sided “inferior than” comparison without matching authority.

English Usage

Preferable To: Standard Pattern

Preferable To: Standard Pattern records the directly documented construction and does not overstate an unsupported preferable-over contrast.

English Usage

Superior To: Standard Pattern

Superior To: Standard Pattern keeps the page to the directly supported construction instead of treating an unverified “superior than” title as a balanced pair.

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