Cool MateIdentical vs Same thing pretty much
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Identical
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Same thing pretty much
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Identical
| Identical | Same thing pretty much | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/aɪˈdentɪkl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/aɪˈdentɪkl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //seɪm θɪŋ ˈprɪti mʌʧ//🇺🇸 //seɪm θɪŋ ˈprɪti mʌtʃ// |
| Meaning | Exactly the same as something else. | Almost the same idea or point. |
| Example | a row of identical houses | That's a great idea, and it's the same thing pretty much as what I was thinking. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, absolutely, completely, exactly, in, to, with | say the same thing pretty much, do the same thing pretty much, think the same thing pretty much |
| Antonyms | different, diverse, distinct | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'identical' when comparing things that are similar but not the same., Confusing 'identical' with 'similar'., Incorrectly using 'identical' in non-comparative contexts. | Using in formal contexts where proper language is expected., Forgetting to use it after making a comparison., Overusing in conversations, making it sound repetitive. |
| Usage notes | Use 'identical' when comparing two or more things that have no differences. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid using it with subjective descriptions that don't show clear similarity. | Used in casual conversation to indicate similarity in ideas or outcomes. Avoid in formal writing or discussions. |
Frequently asked questions: Identical vs Same thing pretty much
What's the difference between Identical and Same thing pretty much?
Identical: Exactly the same as something else. Same thing pretty much: Almost the same idea or point.
Which is more formal: Identical and Same thing pretty much?
Identical is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Identical: a row of identical houses Same thing pretty much: That's a great idea, and it's the same thing pretty much as what I was thinking.
Can I use Identical and Same thing pretty much interchangeably?
Not always. Identical and Same thing pretty much 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.