the difference of like and alike

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Tdol

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'Alike' is used as an adjective:
They look alike.

'Like' is used as a preposition:
He's looks like his brother.
;-)
 

RonBee

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If two things are alike that means they are identical. If two things are like each other that means they are similar but not identical. The two words are not used interchangeably.
 

Tdol

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'Like' can be used as a noun, but 'alike' isn't. ;-)
 

nyggus

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RonBee said:
If two things are alike that means they are identical. If two things are like each other that means they are similar but not identical. The two words are not used interchangeably.
CALD says that alike means similar, which does not agree with RonBee's definition. What is, then, the difference between similar and alike?

Thanks,
Nyggus :cool:
 

nyggus

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Yet Encarta gives two definitions of alike:
1. "similar in appearance or character,"
2. "the same."

(Is there anything worse than two different meanings of one word/phrase? :roll: )

Nyggus :cool:
 

Tdol

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Yep- 'set' has over a hundred meanings. ;-)
 

nyggus

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tdol said:
Yep- 'set' has over a hundred meanings. ;-)
:shock: Which post did you answer here, tdol ;-) ?
 

Tdol

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This:
nyggus said:
(Is there anything worse than two different meanings of one word/phrase? :roll: )

Nyggus :cool:
 

nyggus

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Oh yes, oooops, sorry! Too many questions is not good for the asker!
And what about alike versus similar?

Best,
Nyggus :cool:
 

Tdol

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Similar implies that they are not the same, so it can't cover both meanings.
 

samir.gandhi

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could you tell me about usage of like and alike?

Remember that like and alike have the same meaning, but like is used between the two nouns compared, and alike is used after the two nouns or a plural noun.

Please follow the examples:

Like
1. This coat is like that coat

Alike
1. This coat and that one are alike

Hope, this will solve your issue.

Regards,

Samir
 
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