Understanding the difference between similar to and similarly to can make your English writing clearer and more accurate. These two expressions may look almost identical, but they serve different grammatical functions and are used in different sentence structures. If you’ve ever wondered whether to write “similar to” or “similarly to,” you’re not alone. Many English learners and even native speakers sometimes confuse these phrases.
The expression similar to is an adjective phrase that describes how one person, thing, idea, or situation resembles another. For example, “This phone is similar to my old phone.” Here, “similar” describes the phone. On the other hand, similarly to is generally used when comparing actions, situations, or ways of doing something. It is less common in everyday English and often sounds more formal.
Knowing the difference between these commonly confused words, comparison phrases, and English grammar expressions can help you avoid awkward sentences. In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of similar to, the meaning of similarly to, their grammatical differences, correct usage, examples, and common mistakes. By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use each expression.
Similar To vs. Similarly To: What’s the Difference?
The most important distinction concerns what the expression modifies.
Similar is an adjective. It describes a noun or pronoun.
Similarly is an adverb. It describes an action, manner, result, or relationship between ideas.
Here’s the basic comparison:
| Expression | Grammatical role | Main meaning | Example |
| similar to | Adjective phrase | Alike in some way | This book is similar to mine. |
| similarly to | Adverbial expression | In a similar way to something | The new system works similarly to the old one. |
| similarly | Adverb | In a similar way; likewise | The second group responded similarly. |
A useful shortcut is to look at the word immediately before the expression.
If you have a linking verb such as is, are, was, were, seems, looks, or appears, similar to often fits naturally.
The two products are similar to each other.
If you’re describing how an action happens, similarly is more likely.
The two products perform similarly.
And if you want to name what the action resembles, you can use:
The two products perform similarly to each other.
The grammar changes because the job of the word changes.
What Does “Similar To” Mean?
“Similar To” Is an Adjective Phrase
Similar means alike in some way. It doesn’t mean two things are completely identical.
The standard construction is:
similar + to + noun/pronoun
Examples include:
- This jacket is similar to mine.
- Her opinion is similar to yours.
- The two houses are similar to each other.
- His situation is similar to mine.
- This method is similar to the traditional approach.
- Their results are similar to ours.
In these sentences, similar describes a person, thing, idea, situation, method, or result.
The word to introduces the thing being compared.
Why “Similar To” Is So Common
When you say something is similar to something else, you’re making a direct comparison.
For example:
This restaurant’s menu is similar to the menu at the café downtown.
You’re comparing two menus.
You aren’t saying the menus are identical. Instead, you’re pointing out shared characteristics.
Maybe both offer similar dishes. Perhaps they use comparable ingredients. Maybe their prices fall within the same range.
That’s what similar to communicates.
Similar Does Not Mean Identical
This distinction is important.
Similar means that two things share characteristics. Same generally indicates identity or equivalence in the relevant context.
Compare:
My car is similar to yours.
This means the cars have characteristics in common.
Perhaps they’re both SUVs. Maybe they’re the same model year. They could simply look alike.
Now consider:
My car is the same as yours.
This normally makes a much stronger claim. The cars are being treated as identical in the relevant sense.
| Expression | Meaning |
| similar to | Alike, but not necessarily identical |
| the same as | Identical or equivalent in the relevant context |
| different from | Not alike |
For example:
Your answer is similar to mine.
This doesn’t mean you gave exactly the same answer.
You may have reached the same conclusion using different words or reasoning.
When to Use “Similar To”
Use “Similar To” to Compare People
You can compare people’s appearance, personality, behavior, experiences, opinions, or circumstances.
Examples:
Sarah is similar to her sister.
His teaching style is similar to his father’s.
My experience was similar to yours.
The expression doesn’t tell you exactly how the people are similar. The surrounding context supplies that information.
For example:
Her communication style is similar to her manager’s.
The comparison concerns communication style rather than every aspect of the two people.
Use “Similar To” for Objects
Physical objects often take similar to when you compare their appearance, design, size, function, or other characteristics.
Examples:
This phone looks similar to the previous model.
The new chair is similar to the old one.
That building is similar to the one across the street.
Notice the verbs looks and is. The phrase describes the subject.
Use “Similar To” for Ideas and Concepts
You can also compare abstract ideas.
Examples:
Her argument is similar to the one presented earlier.
This theory is similar to an older model.
Their proposal is similar to ours.
This usage appears frequently in academic, business, technical, and professional writing.
Use “Similar To” for Situations
Situations can share features without being identical.
The current problem is similar to the one we faced last year.
His experience was similar to mine.
This case is similar to the previous case.
Here, similar to helps readers connect a new situation with something familiar.
That’s often useful when explaining complicated ideas. Instead of describing every detail from scratch, you can show the reader that the new situation resembles something they already understand.
Similar To vs. Similar With
One common learner mistake is using similar with instead of similar to.
In standard English, the usual construction is:
similar to
Examples:
This design is similar to the original.
Her experience is similar to mine.
The two systems are similar to each other.
The construction similar with isn’t the normal choice when you’re directly comparing two things.
So, for most everyday and formal writing:
❌ The new model is similar with the old model.
✅ The new model is similar to the old model.
The preposition belongs to the established expression similar to.
What Does “Similarly To” Mean?
“Similarly” Is an Adverb
Similarly means in a similar way or in a way that resembles something else.
Unlike similar, it doesn’t normally describe a noun directly.
Instead, it often modifies a verb or connects one statement with another.
For example:
The first team responded quickly. The second team responded similarly.
Here, similarly tells you something about how the second team responded.
It doesn’t describe the team itself.
You can also say:
The new software operates similarly to the old software.
Here, similarly to means that the new software operates in a way comparable to the old software.
The Basic Structure of “Similarly To”
A common pattern is:
subject + verb + similarly to + noun/pronoun
Examples:
- The new engine operates similarly to the old engine.
- The device functions similarly to a traditional camera.
- The second group responded similarly to the first group.
- The new process works similarly to the previous system.
- The software behaves similarly to its predecessor.
The expression compares the manner of an action or process.
That’s the major grammatical difference from similar to.
When to Use “Similarly To”
Use “Similarly To” to Compare Actions
Suppose two people react in comparable ways.
You could write:
James reacted similarly to his brother.
Here, similarly describes the way James reacted.
Compare this with:
James is similar to his brother.
Now you’re describing James himself.
The two sentences aren’t interchangeable.
The first compares behavior.
The second compares characteristics or qualities.
Use “Similarly To” to Compare Processes
Technical and academic writing often uses similarly to when comparing processes or systems.
For example:
The new machine operates similarly to the previous model.
The sentence isn’t simply saying the two machines are alike.
It says their operation follows a comparable pattern.
Another example:
The updated software processes data similarly to the earlier version.
The comparison concerns the process of handling data.
Use “Similarly To” When Manner Matters
The word similarly answers an implicit question:
How?
Consider:
The first group responded cautiously.
Then:
The second group responded similarly.
How did they respond?
Cautiously.
The adverb establishes a parallel between the two actions.
Now add the comparison:
The second group responded similarly to the first group.
The phrase explicitly tells you whose response provides the comparison.
“Similarly” vs. “Similarly To”
You don’t always need to after similarly.
In fact, similarly often sounds cleaner when the comparison is obvious.
Consider:
The first company reduced its prices. The second company acted similarly.
The reader already knows what the second company is being compared with.
Adding to isn’t necessary.
But suppose the reader doesn’t know what you’re comparing:
The second company acted similarly to its main competitor.
Now to its main competitor identifies the reference point.
That’s the practical difference.
| Sentence | Function |
| The second company responded similarly. | The comparison is understood from context. |
| The second company responded similarly to its competitor. | The comparison is explicitly identified. |
Similarly Can Also Connect Ideas
Similarly isn’t limited to verb modification.
It can function as a linking adverb that introduces a parallel idea.
For example:
The first study found a strong relationship between sleep and memory. Similarly, the second study reported a connection between the two.
Here, similarly means something like in the same way or likewise.
It connects two related statements.
This is especially common in academic and formal writing.
Similar To vs. Similarly To in Sentence Structure
Understanding sentence structure makes this distinction much easier.
Structure of “Similar To”
The common pattern is:
Subject + linking verb + similar to + comparison
Examples:
The two designs are similar to each other.
This result is similar to our previous finding.
Her approach seems similar to mine.
The adjective similar describes the subject.
Structure of “Similarly To”
A common pattern is:
Subject + action verb + similarly to + comparison
Examples:
The two systems operate similarly to each other.
The second group responded similarly to the first.
The new device functions similarly to the old one.
The adverb similarly describes the action.
Why You Can’t Always Substitute One for the Other
Consider:
The two machines are similar to each other. ✅
This works because similar describes the machines.
Now:
The two machines are similarly to each other. ❌
That doesn’t work in standard English because similarly can’t replace the adjective in that structure.
Now reverse the situation:
The two machines operate similarly to each other. ✅
But:
The two machines operate similar to each other. ❌
Here, operate is an action. The adverb similarly is needed to describe how they operate.
This is one of the easiest ways to understand the difference.
Similar To vs. Similarly To Examples
Comparing People
Maria is similar to her sister.
This compares Maria’s characteristics with her sister’s.
Maria responded similarly to her sister.
This compares Maria’s response with her sister’s response.
Comparing Products
The new phone is similar to the previous model.
The phones share characteristics.
The new phone performs similarly to the previous model.
Their performance is comparable.
Comparing Methods
This method is similar to the traditional approach.
The methods share characteristics.
This method works similarly to the traditional approach.
The way the methods work is comparable.
Comparing Situations
The current situation is similar to last year’s problem.
The situations share relevant features.
The company responded similarly to last year.
The company’s response followed a comparable pattern.
Comparing Technology
The new device is similar to a digital camera.
The devices have comparable features.
The new device operates similarly to a digital camera.
The comparison focuses on operation.
Similar To vs. Similarly To in Formal and Academic Writing
Both expressions appear in formal writing, but writers use them for different purposes.
Similar to is especially useful when identifying comparable findings, theories, methods, cases, or objects.
For example:
The results were similar to those reported in previous studies.
This tells the reader that the findings resemble earlier findings.
Similarly to can compare how a process, group, or system behaves:
The treatment group responded similarly to the control group.
Here, the comparison focuses on the groups’ responses.
“Similarly” as a Transition
Academic writers also use similarly to introduce a parallel point.
For example:
Previous research identified several limitations. Similarly, the present study encountered challenges related to sample size.
Here, similarly connects two ideas.
It isn’t followed by to because it functions as a transition.
A common mistake is adding to automatically:
❌ Similarly to, the present study encountered…
That’s incomplete.
Instead:
✅ Similarly, the present study encountered…
Or, if you want to identify a specific comparison:
✅ Similarly to previous studies, the present study encountered…
The grammar depends on the intended structure.
Similar To vs. Similarly To: Common Mistakes
Using “Similarly To” After “Is”
One of the most common errors is treating similarly as a direct replacement for similar.
Incorrect:
❌ This product is similarly to the old one.
Correct:
✅ This product is similar to the old one.
Why?
Because is links the subject to a descriptive adjective.
The adjective similar belongs in that position.
Using “Similar To” to Describe an Action
Now consider:
❌ She responded similar to her colleague.
The verb responded needs an adverb if you’re describing the manner of the response.
Correct:
✅ She responded similarly to her colleague.
The sentence now means that her response was comparable to her colleague’s response.
Confusing “Similarly” With “Similarly To”
Both can be correct:
The two teams responded similarly.
The second team responded similarly to the first team.
The first sentence leaves the comparison to context.
The second explicitly names the comparison.
Don’t add to simply because you see the word similarly.
Using “Similar With”
Avoid this in ordinary standard English when making a direct comparison.
❌ The two plans are similar with each other.
✅ The two plans are similar to each other.
Using “Similar” Where an Adverb Is Required
Consider:
❌ The machine operates similar to the old model.
In careful standard English, use:
✅ The machine operates similarly to the old model.
The adverb similarly modifies operates.
Similar To vs. Similarly To: A Grammar Test
When you’re unsure, try removing the comparison phrase.
For example:
The two products are similar to each other.
Remove the comparison:
The two products are similar.
That still works.
Now try:
The two products operate similarly to each other.
Remove the comparison:
The two products operate similarly.
That also works.
This test can help you see the grammatical role.
Ask:
Am I describing the thing, or am I describing the action?
If you’re describing the thing:
similar to
If you’re describing the action:
similarly or similarly to
Similar To, Similarly, and Likewise
These three expressions overlap, but they aren’t identical.
Similar To
Use similar to when you directly describe likeness.
This design is similar to the original.
Similarly
Use similarly to describe a comparable action or introduce a parallel idea.
The second group responded similarly.
Or:
Similarly, the second study reached the same conclusion.
Likewise
Likewise can often mean similarly or also.
She enjoyed the presentation, and I likewise found it useful.
Or:
The first team struggled. Likewise, the second team had difficulties.
However, likewise doesn’t replace similar to in every sentence.
You wouldn’t normally say:
❌ This phone is likewise the previous model.
Instead:
✅ This phone is similar to the previous model.
The grammatical structures remain different.
Similar To vs. Similarly To: A Practical Decision Guide
When choosing between the two expressions, work through these questions.
Are You Describing a Noun?
Use similar to.
The two paintings are similar to each other.
Are You Describing an Action?
Use similarly.
The two artists worked similarly.
Do You Need to Identify What the Action Resembles?
Use similarly to.
The second artist worked similarly to the first.
Is the Comparison Already Obvious?
Use similarly without to.
The first company lowered prices. The second company acted similarly.
Are You Introducing a Parallel Idea?
Use similarly as a transition.
Similarly, the second study reached a comparable conclusion.
This decision process handles most ordinary cases.
Read More:Seamless or Seemless: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Similar To vs. Similarly To: Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature | Similar to | Similarly to |
| Main word | Similar | Similarly |
| Part of speech | Adjective | Adverb |
| Basic meaning | Alike in some way | In a similar way |
| Main function | Describes a noun or subject | Describes an action or process |
| Common structure | be + similar to | verb + similarly to |
| Can be used after “is”? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Usually no |
| Can describe an action? | ❌ Not normally | ✅ Yes |
| Can stand without “to”? | Similar normally needs its comparison or context | Similarly can stand alone |
| Example | The plans are similar to ours. | The teams responded similarly to ours. |
The table reveals the central idea: similar describes a thing, while similarly describes a manner or relationship.
Similar To vs. Similarly To in Everyday English
In everyday conversation, similar to appears much more naturally when people compare things.
You might say:
“That movie is similar to the one we watched last week.”
“Your new laptop looks similar to mine.”
“His situation is similar to yours.”
For actions, speakers often choose similarly:
“She reacted similarly.”
“They handled it similarly.”
If the comparison needs clarification, similarly to becomes useful:
“They handled it similarly to the previous team.”
This distinction keeps speech natural and prevents unnecessary wording.
Similar To vs. Similarly To in Professional Writing
Professional writing often needs precise comparisons.
Suppose a report discusses two customer-service systems.
You could write:
The new system is similar to the existing system.
That statement compares their characteristics.
But if you’re discussing their operation:
The new system operates similarly to the existing system.
The second sentence is more specific.
It tells the reader that the way the system operates is comparable.
That precision matters in technical documentation, research reports, business analysis, and instructional writing.
Practice: Similar To or Similarly To?
Choose the expression that best completes each sentence.
Questions
A. This design is ___ the original.
B. The machine operates ___ the previous model.
C. Her opinion is ___ mine.
D. The second group responded ___ the first group.
E. These two situations are ___ each other.
F. The new software behaves ___ the old version.
G. His experience was ___ yours.
H. The two companies reacted ___.
I. This approach is ___ the traditional method.
J. The new process works ___ the previous process.
K. The second study reached a ___ conclusion.
L. The two devices function ___ one another.
Answer Key
A. similar to
This design is similar to the original.
B. similarly to
The machine operates similarly to the previous model.
C. similar to
Her opinion is similar to mine.
D. similarly to
The second group responded similarly to the first group.
E. similar to
These two situations are similar to each other.
F. similarly to
The new software behaves similarly to the old version.
G. similar to
His experience was similar to yours.
H. similarly
The two companies reacted similarly.
The comparison is already clear from context.
I. similar to
This approach is similar to the traditional method.
J. similarly to
The new process works similarly to the previous process.
K. similar
The second study reached a similar conclusion.
Here, similar directly modifies the noun conclusion. It doesn’t need to because there is no explicit comparison phrase after it.
L. similarly to
The two devices function similarly to one another.
The word similarly modifies the verb function.
Conclusion
The main difference between similar to and similarly to is their grammatical role and how they function in a sentence. Similar to is much more common and normally works as an adjective phrase to show that two things, people, ideas, or situations resemble each other. For example, “Her dress is similar to mine.”Similarly to, in contrast, is less common and usually appears in more formal writing when you want to compare actions, methods, or situations. In many cases, you can make your sentence sound more natural by using similarly, in a similar way, or another suitable structure.When you’re unsure, check what you’re describing. If you’re describing a noun or pronoun, similar to will usually be the correct choice. If you’re comparing actions or circumstances, consider whether similarly or in a similar way would sound more natural.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between similar to and similarly to?
Similar to is an adjective phrase used to show that two things or people resemble each other. Similarly to is less common and is generally used in formal comparisons involving actions, methods, or situations.
2. Is “similar to” grammatically correct?
Yes. Similar to is completely correct and extremely common in English. For example: “This problem is similar to the previous one.”
3. Is “similarly to” correct English?
Yes, similarly to can be grammatically correct, but it is less common than similar to. Depending on the sentence, similarly or in a similar way may sound more natural.
4. Can I use “similar to” for people?
Yes. You can use similar to when comparing people, their personalities, appearances, behavior, or characteristics. For example: “She is similar to her sister.”
5. Can “similarly to” describe a noun?
Usually, similar to is the better choice when directly describing a noun. For example, “His car is similar to mine” is natural, while “His car is similarly to mine” is incorrect.
6. Which phrase is more common: similar to or similarly to?
Similar to is much more common in everyday English. It is the standard expression for showing that two things share characteristics.
7. What can I use instead of “similarly to”?
Depending on your sentence, you can use similarly, in a similar way, likewise, or in the same way. The best choice depends on what you’re comparing.
8. Is “similarly to” formal?
It can sound more formal or less natural than similar to. In everyday English, writers often choose similarly, likewise, or in a similar way instead.
9. Which one should English learners use?
In most situations, similar to is the safer and more natural choice when you’re saying that one thing resembles another. Use similarly when comparing actions, ideas, or situations.
