Cool MateAlike vs Both bottles are of course identical
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Alike
Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb
Both bottles are of course identical
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Alike
| Alike | Both bottles are of course identical | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈlaɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈlaɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //bəʊθ ˈbɒtəlz ɑːr əv kɔːs aɪˈdɛntɪkəl//🇺🇸 //boʊθ ˈbɑːtəlz ɑr əv kɔrs aɪˈdɛntɪkəl// |
| Meaning | similar or the same as something else | Both bottles are the same. |
| Example | They tried to treat all their children alike. | Both bottles are of course identical in design. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | look alike, feel alike, sound alike, think alike | bottles are identical, are of course, identical in design, both are the same, identical pairs |
| Antonyms | different, unlike | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Alike' used for more than two subjects (e.g., 'The three cars look alike' is correct, but 'The car and the bike are alike'.), Confusing 'alike' with 'like' in different sentence structures., 'Alike' often misused in the passive voice. | Confused with 'identical' vs 'similar': 'Identical' means exactly the same, while 'similar' means close but not exactly the same., Using 'of course' inappropriately: Only use it when the information is already known or obvious to the audience. |
| Usage notes | Use 'alike' to show similarity between two objects or subjects. Avoid in formal writing; 'similar' is preferred in those contexts. | Used to emphasize similarity. Often used in discussions where choices or options are being compared. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Alike vs Both bottles are of course identical
What's the difference between Alike and Both bottles are of course identical?
Alike: similar or the same as something else Both bottles are of course identical: Both bottles are the same.
Which is more common: Alike and Both bottles are of course identical?
Alike is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Alike: They tried to treat all their children alike. Both bottles are of course identical: Both bottles are of course identical in design.
Can I use Alike and Both bottles are of course identical interchangeably?
Not always. Alike and Both bottles are of course identical are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.