Distinguishing Between Such As & Like

Such As vs Like

Such As and Like are often confused due to their similar meanings, but there are differences in their usage and connotations. While most people use these two words interchangeably, believing them to be synonyms, they are actually different. When the form of the word changes, we can see differences in the usage of the words, such as when like is used as a preposition versus as a verb.

Key Takeaways

• Such As is used to indicate instances or examples, while Like indicates similarity between two objects due to comparison.
• In comparisons, like is used as a preposition, but when used as a verb, it means desire.
• Understanding the differences between Such As and Like helps to use them correctly in sentences and avoid confusion.

What does Such As mean?

The word such as is used as indicative of ‘instances’ or ‘examples,’ as seen in the following sentences:

I like to eat fruits such as apple and mango.
Fine arts such as music and dance soothe our mind.

In both sentences, the word such as is used in the sense of ‘examples.’ The first sentence gives examples of fruits (apple and mango), while the second sentence gives examples of fine arts (music and dance).

What does Like mean?

The word like is indicative of similarity between two objects, which arises due to comparison. Observe the following sentences:

Her eyes are beautiful like the lotuses.
He roared like a lion.

In these sentences, the word like is used in the sense of ‘similarity.’ The first sentence implies that her eyes resemble lotuses, while the second sentence implies that his roar resembled that of a lion. In these examples, the word like is used as a preposition. It’s important to remember that like is used as a preposition when used in comparison.

The word like is also sometimes used in the sense of ‘desire,’ as seen in the following sentences:

I like roses.
I like to eat toasted bread.

In both sentences, the word like is used in the sense of ‘desire.’ The first sentence means ‘I desire roses,’ while the second sentence means ‘I desire to eat toasted bread.’ However, this meaning applies only when like is used as a verb, as in the given examples.

What is the difference between Such As and Like?

• The word such as is used as indicative of ‘instances’ or ‘examples.’
• The word like is indicative of similarity between two objects, which comes into being due to comparison. This is the primary difference between such as and like.
• In comparisons, like is used as a preposition.
• When used as a verb, the verb likes means ‘desire.’