like, such as

[Lenka]

Is there a difference between "like" and "such as"?

You waste too much time doing things like/such as sitting in cafés all day.

We spent most of our time doing energetic things like/such as sailing, water skiing and swimming.

Can I use both of them in the sentences?

[Niall]

Technically you can use both of them in the sentences.

Though to me, "like" seems to sound better. For me "such as" in these sentences sounds awkward. This may be because of my young age, and my generations tendency to overuse the word "like"!

[Lenka]

Originally Posted by Niall

Technically you can use both of them in the sentences.

Though to me, "like" seems to sound better. For me "such as" in these sentences sounds awkward. This may be because of my young age, and my generations tendency to overuse the word "like"!

OK, thank you for the response! Well, I am young too - does it mean that if I said "such as" in Britain, it would sound funny or old-fashioned?

[Niall]

Not at all, though in most sentences "like" seems most appropriate.

Sometimes i find "such as" more appropriate, but usually, "like" expresses the point perfectly. A circumstance where I would use "such as" is when talking about places or landmarks. For example:
"When visiting the city of London, It is necessary to visit the great sites such as the Tower of London and The Houses of Parliament"
I have no logical reason for using "such as" here. This is simply person preference!
If you are in doubt, use "Like"!

[BobK]

...does it mean that if I said "such as" in Britain, it would sound funny or old-fashioned?

Not to me (though I am thirty-something [hexadecimal]).

b

[Casiopea]

such as sounds awkward when it introduces just one example. It's used - or rather, used to be used to introduce more than one example, as was the case with like. Formally, like expresses a comparison, whereas such as introduces different things that happen to belong to the same class. But nowadays things are different. Language is much more informal.

Try here.

like excludes (e.g., only this or these); such as includes (e.g., these and others). For example,

[1] You waste too much time doing things like sitting in cafes all day.
=> sitting in cafes is the primary thing.

[2] You waste too much time doing things such as sitting in cafes all day.
=> sitting in cafes is just one of the many things.

[3] We spend most of our time doing energetic things like sailing, waterskiing, and swimming.
=> Those are the primary sports.

[4] We spend most of our time doing energetic things such as sailing, waterskiing, and swimming.
=> Those are examples of the "different" kinds of sports we do.

Hope that helps.

[Lenka]

Thank you very much, indeed!

[Casiopea]

You're most welcome.