equally as (equally)

'Equally as' often duplicates meaning. Choose either 'equally' (to mark degree) or the paired comparative 'as ... as' (to link two items). Below are quick rules, clear rewrite templates, and plenty of wrong→right examples you can copy.

Quick answer

'Equally as' is usually redundant. Use one of these patterns:

Equally + adjective/adverb for equal degree: "The teams are equally capable."
As + adjective + as for a direct comparison: "This model is as efficient as the last."
If both appear, drop the extra word-most often remove the second "as."

Core explanation: why 'equally as' often repeats yourself

'Equally' is an adverb meaning "to the same degree." 'As' is part of the paired comparative 'as ... as.' Using both usually says "to the same degree as" twice. Pick one structure that matches the sentence.

equally + ADJ/ADV = equal degree (equally important, equally well)
as + ADJ + as = direct comparison (as old as, as careful as)
'Equally as' ≈ redundant "to the same degree as" in most contexts.

Grammar details: how to spot which form you need

Ask whether you're modifying an adjective/adverb or linking two items. If you're marking degree, use 'equally.' If you're comparing two things, use 'as...as.' Avoid two degree markers in one sentence.

'Equally' modifies an adjective/adverb: 'equally skilled', 'equally often'.
'As...as' connects two items: 'as skilled as his colleague', 'as often as before'.
If clauses or nouns appear on both sides of the comparison, 'as...as' is usually the right choice.

Real usage and tone

Speakers use 'equally as' often in conversation and informal text; listeners understand it. For tighter prose-emails, reports, essays-prefer the concise form. When in doubt, read the sentence aloud: redundancy usually becomes audible.

Casual: acceptable in spoken language but avoid for polished copy.
Business/academic: choose 'equally' or 'as...as', not both.
When you need emphasis, use 'just as' or restructure instead of stacking degree markers.

Rewrite help: instant templates and common rewrites

Two templates cover most fixes. Test both templates in context if you're unsure.

Template A (degree): equally + ADJ/ADV → "equally effective", "equally well received".
Template B (comparison): as + ADJ + as + X → "as effective as the benchmark".
Emphasis: just as + ADJ + as → "just as important as".

Original: The speakers were equally as engaging.
Rewrite: The speakers were equally engaging. Or: The speakers were as engaging as last year's.
Original: I feel equally as confident about both proposals.
Rewrite: I feel equally confident about both proposals. Or: I feel as confident about the second proposal as I do about the first.
Original: She's equally as skilled as her teammate.
Rewrite: She's as skilled as her teammate. Or: She is equally skilled.
Original: We were equally as surprised by the results.
Rewrite: We were equally surprised by the results. Or: We were as surprised by the results as the client was.
Original: The software is equally as fast on Mac.
Rewrite: The software is equally fast on Mac. Or: The software runs as fast on Mac as on Windows.

Examples you can copy: work, school, casual wrong→right pairs

Wrong sentences show typical 'equally as' errors; the right sentences are concise and appropriate for the context.

Work - Wrong: This quarter's results are equally as strong as last year's.
Right: This quarter's results are as strong as last year's.
Work - Wrong: Our teams were equally as committed to the launch.
Right: Our teams were equally committed to the launch.
Work - Wrong: The new hire is equally as skilled as the previous candidate.
Right: The new hire is as skilled as the previous candidate.
School - Wrong: Students are equally as adept at problem-solving after the workshop.
Right: Students are equally adept at problem-solving after the workshop.
School - Wrong: Her essay was equally as compelling as his.
Right: Her essay was as compelling as his.
School - Wrong: The two lab groups were equally as reliable in their measurements.
Right: The two lab groups were equally reliable in their measurements.
Casual - Wrong: I'm equally as excited about the concert.
Right: I'm equally excited about the concert.
Casual - Wrong: They're equally as likely to come to the party.
Right: They're as likely to come to the party.
Casual - Wrong: She's equally as funny as her brother.
Right: She's as funny as her brother.
Casual - Wrong: We felt equally as nervous before the interview.
Right: We felt equally nervous before the interview.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not the phrase alone. Replace 'equally' with 'to the same degree'-if grammar still works, keep 'equally.' If you must link two items, use 'as...as.'

Hyphenation and spacing: formatting notes

"Equally as" is two separate words-never hyphenate. When you remove a word (usually 'as'), standard spacing and punctuation rules remain: one space between words, commas and periods unchanged unless you restructure the sentence.

Never hyphenate: 'equally-as' is incorrect.
Do not add extra spaces: use a single space between words.
Removing 'as' rarely requires punctuation changes unless sentence structure shifts.

Similar mistakes to fix at the same time

The same decision-degree versus comparison-fixes other redundancies. Pick one clear form rather than stacking modifiers.

more better → better
completely unique → unique
just as equally → just as (or equally)
equally well as → as well as (or equally well)

Wrong: She is just as equally talented as him.
Right: She is just as talented as he is. OR She is equally talented.
Wrong: He was equally well as his predecessor at handling clients.
Right: He was as good as his predecessor at handling clients. OR He was equally good at handling clients.

Quick checklist: spot, decide, rewrite

Run this four-step check when you find 'equally as' or a fuzzy comparative.

Spot: hunt for 'equally as', 'just as equally', 'equally well as'.
Decide: degree (ADJ/ADV) or direct comparison (two items)?
Rewrite: use 'equally + ADJ/ADV' or 'as + ADJ + as + X'.
Read aloud: choose the version that sounds natural and concise.

Example: 'The candidates were equally as experienced.' → Spot → Decide (comparison) → Rewrite: 'The candidates were as experienced as one another.'

Memory trick

Replace 'equally' with 'to the same degree.' If the sentence still makes sense, use 'equally.' If you need to link two things, use 'as...as.' Mnemonic: Degree = equally; Pair = as...as.

'Degree? Use equally.'
'Pair two things? Use as...as.'
When both fit, prefer clarity and brevity.

FAQ

Is 'equally as' always wrong?

No. It's common in speech and informal writing and generally understood. In formal writing it's often redundant, so choose one pattern for clarity.

Can I say 'equally as likely'?

You'll hear it in speech, but prefer 'equally likely' or 'as likely as' in formal contexts to avoid redundancy.

Will removing 'as' change the meaning?

Usually not. 'Equally X' stresses degree; 'as X as' explicitly compares two items. Pick the one that matches your intent.

What if the sentence becomes awkward after the swap?

Try the other template or restructure: move the adjective next to the noun or use 'just as' for emphasis.

How can I find all instances in a long document?

Search for exact phrases like 'equally as', 'just as equally', or 'equally well as', or use a grammar tool to flag redundant comparatives.

Fix one sentence now

Paste a sentence that uses 'equally as' into your editor, apply one of the rewrite templates above, and read it aloud. If you want a second opinion, run both versions through a checker or read them to a colleague to see which sounds clearer.