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Prepositions after adjectives

identical to vs. identical with

Both identical to and identical with are correct. Identical to is more common in modern international English.

Quick answer

Which form should you use?

Use identical to for most situations involving sameness. Identical with is also correct, especially in formal or older styles.

Her signature is identical to mine.
The two reports are identical to each other.
The design was identical with the original plan.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
identical to + noun

Comparing two things

Identical to is the standard modern pattern for exact similarity.

The copy is identical to the original.
Their uniforms are identical to ours.
2
identical with + noun

Formal or traditional wording

Identical with has the same meaning but sounds more formal or traditional.

The results were identical with previous findings.
His account is identical with the witness statement.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
identical to
The twins look identical to each other.
exactly the same as something else
identical with
The document is identical with the archived version.
exactly the same; more formal or traditional
same as
This model is the same as mine.
common alternative for similarity

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using identical than

Identical takes to or with, not than.

✕ The copy is identical than the original. ✓ The copy is identical to the original.

Adding unnecessary words

Identical already means exactly the same.

✕ completely identical to ✓ identical to

Confusing identical with similar

Identical means exactly the same, not just alike.

✕ The designs are identical but have small differences. ✓ The designs are similar but have small differences.

Overusing identical with in informal English

Identical to is usually more natural in modern everyday English.

✕ My phone is identical with yours. ✓ My phone is identical to yours.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The new version is identical ___ the old one.
2. Which option is more formal?
3. The uniforms are identical ___ ours.

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Frequently asked questions

Is identical with correct?

Yes. It is correct but sounds more formal or traditional than identical to.

Which is more common in modern English?

Identical to is generally more natural in everyday modern English.

Can I use identical for small differences?

No. Identical means exactly the same.

ideal-for-in-as-at, from identifiable by, as, with, in or to? "idle for" or "idle in"? ignorant of, about, to, in or on? "illegal in" or "illegal for"? illustrative of, in, rather or for? ill with, in, for, at or of? "immune to" or "immune from"? "impatient with" or "impatient for"? "imperative for" or "imperative to"? impervious to, from or in? implicit in, to, within, from or rather?

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