“Like” indicates similarity or comparison, while “such as” introduces specific examples.
Key takeaways:
"Like" compares similar things or examples without being exhaustive.
"Such as" introduces specific examples that are part of a group.
Use "like" for general comparisons: "He runs like a professional athlete."
Use "such as" to list examples: "Fruits such as apples and oranges are healthy."
Context determines the choice: "like" suggests similarity, while "such as" gives actual examples.
Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs
English can sometimes be tricky, especially when it comes to words or phrases that seem interchangeable but actually have distinct meanings. A common source of confusion is the difference between "like" and "such as." While both are used to connect ideas or provide context, they serve different purposes in writing. Let’s break down these differences and explore when to use each.
"Like" is a
Examples:
"She sings like a professional musician."
(Comparison: She isn’t a professional musician, but she has a similar talent.)
"He runs like the wind."
(Comparison: He runs fast, similar to how the wind moves.)
Pro tip: Use "like" when the goal is to compare qualities or behaviors, not provide specific examples.
"Such as" introduces specific examples that are part of a larger group or category. It implies that the examples given are part of the same set.
Examples:
"I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing."
(Specific examples: Hiking, camping, and fishing are part of outdoor activities.)
"Languages such as Python and JavaScript are popular in web development."
(Specific examples of programming languages in web development.)
Pro tip: Use "such as" when listing concrete examples to clarify your point.
Use "such as" for precise examples and "like" for comparisons or general similarities.
Criteria | Like | Such as |
Purpose | To compare or suggest similarity. | To give specific examples. |
Specificity | General; not part of the group being discussed. | Specific examples from the group. |
Example Sentence | "He dances like a pro." | "He enjoys dance styles such as salsa and jazz." |
Fill in the blanks with "like" or "such as":
She enjoys sports ___ tennis and basketball.
He behaves ___ his older brother.
Programming languages ___ Python are useful for data science.
The dessert tastes ___ heaven.
Using “like” when “such as” is appropriate:
Incorrect: “I love drinks like tea and coffee.” (This implies similarity but not examples.)
Correct: “I love drinks such as tea and coffee.” (This gives examples of drinks.)
Using “such as” when “like” is more appropriate:
Incorrect: “He runs such as a professional athlete.”
Correct: “He runs like a professional athlete.”
Understanding the difference between "like" and "such as" comes down to how specific or general your sentence needs to be.
Use "like" for comparisons.
Use "such as" for specific examples.
Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between "like" and "such as":
Animals _____ lions and tigers are found in the wild.
like
She dances _____ a professional ballerina.
such as
Drinks _____ tea and coffee are popular worldwide.
He sings _____ a rockstar on stage.
Outdoor activities _____ hiking and kayaking are great for fitness.
She solved the puzzle _____ a genius.
Ingredients _____ flour and sugar are essential for baking.
He talks _____ he knows everything about cars.
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To enhance technical writing and minimize common grammar mistakes, continue exploring these topics:
Commonly confused words (homophones & similar-sounding words): These words sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.
Prepositions & usage differences: These words and phrases are often confused due to subtle contextual differences.
Punctuation & formatting: These involve rules for using dashes, abbreviations, and sentence structure.
Grammar & sentence structure: These deal with pronoun choices, verb usage, and comparison.
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