Cool MateAs vs Equally vs Similarly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As
Equally
Similarly
| As | Equally | Similarly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əz//æz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əz//æz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈiːkwəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈiːkwəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɪmələli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɪmələrli/"]/ |
| Meaning | in the same way or manner | In the same way or to the same degree. | In the same way or manner. |
| Example | They were all dressed as clowns. | Diet and exercise are **equally important**. | It is a little cheaper than other similarly sized cars. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | preposition | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | as fast as, as good as, as long as | equally important, equally shared, equally capable, equally beneficial | similarly structured, similarly situated, similarly motivated |
| Antonyms | unlike, dissimilar | unequally, disparately | differently, unlike |
| Common mistakes | 'As' vs 'like': Confusing when to use in comparisons., Incorrect placement in complex sentences., Using 'as' with a noun without a proper structure. | Confused with 'equal' — use 'equally' only as an adverb., Using 'equally' to compare more than two things where 'as' might be better., Misplacing it in a sentence, making the comparison unclear. | 'Similarly' is sometimes incorrectly used to start a sentence without a clear comparison., Learners may confuse 'similarly' with 'simile', confusing comparative language with figurative language., Overusing 'similarly' in a paragraph can lead to redundancy. |
| Usage notes | Used for comparisons or to indicate a role. It's appropriate in formal and informal contexts. Avoid using 'as' in place of 'like' in informal speech. | Use 'equally' when comparing two or more things that are similar in some aspect. Avoid in very formal writing. | Use 'similarly' to compare two ideas or situations. It is best used in analytical or formal writing. Avoid in casual conversation where simpler phrases like 'also' might fit better. |
Frequently asked questions: As vs Equally vs Similarly
What's the difference between As, Equally, and Similarly?
As: in the same way or manner Equally: In the same way or to the same degree. Similarly: In the same way or manner.
Which is more common: As, Equally, and Similarly?
As is the most common in everyday English.
Are As, Equally, and Similarly the same CEFR level?
As: A1, Equally: B1, Similarly: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are As, Equally, and Similarly?
As: preposition, Equally: adverb, Similarly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
As: They were all dressed as clowns. Equally: Diet and exercise are **equally important**. Similarly: It is a little cheaper than other similarly sized cars.
Can I use As, Equally, and Similarly interchangeably?
Not always. As, Equally, and Similarly 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.