Similar to or Similarly to: Which Is Correct? Meaning, Examples, and Usage

If you are wondering whether similar to or similarly to is correct, the answer is that both can be correct, but they serve different grammatical purposes. The right choice depends on what you are describing in the sentence.

Similar to uses similar as an adjective to describe a person, thing, idea, or other entity. By contrast, similarly to uses similarly as an adverb to describe an action, process, or behavior.

Compare:

• The two designs are similar to each other.
• The two machines operate similarly to each other.

In the first example, similar describes the designs. In the second, similarly describes how the machines operate. Understanding this difference makes it easier to choose the correct form in everyday, academic, and professional writing.

Quick Answer: “Similar To” vs. “Similarly To”

Use similar to when you are comparing entities or their characteristics:

The new building is similar to the old one.

Use similarly to when you are comparing actions, processes, or behavior:

The new system operates similarly to the old one.

A useful rule is:

• similar to → describes what something is like
• similarly to → describes how something happens

However, do not choose between them simply because both contain to. Instead, look at what the word modifies and how the sentence is structured.

What Does “Similar To” Mean?

Similar to means that one person, thing, idea, or entity shares some characteristics or qualities with another.

The word similar is an adjective, so it describes a noun or pronoun. The phrase beginning with to identifies the thing being compared.

For example:

This jacket is similar to mine.

Here, similar describes this jacket, while to mine identifies the comparison.

A common structure is:

Subject + linking verb + similar to + comparison

For example:

• The two houses are similar to each other.
• Her new phone looks similar to mine.
• This approach seems similar to the previous method.
• The results appear similar to those from the earlier study.

Similar does not mean exactly the same. Two things can share important characteristics without being identical.

The two shirts are similar, but they are not the same.

How to Use “Similar To” Correctly

Because similar is an adjective, it commonly follows linking verbs such as be, look, seem, and appear.

For example:

Your proposal is similar to ours.

The two paintings look similar to each other.

Her explanation seems similar to the one we heard earlier.

The new design appears similar to the original.

In each sentence, similar describes the subject. The phrase beginning with to gives the basis for comparison.

You can use similar to in many contexts:

Everyday English

This coffee tastes similar to the one we had yesterday.

Academic writing

The results were similar to those reported in the earlier study.

Professional writing

The proposed plan is similar to the process we currently use.

The important point is that similar to describes characteristics or qualities. It does not itself describe how an action takes place.

What Does “Similarly To” Mean?

Similarly is an adverb meaning “in a similar way” or “in a comparable manner.” When followed by to, it can introduce the thing used as the basis for the comparison.

For example:

The new system operates similarly to the old one.

Here, similarly modifies operates. It explains how the new system operates.

Compare:

The two systems are similar to each other.

The two systems operate similarly to each other.

The first sentence describes the systems. The second describes their operation.

This is why similarly to is not automatically incorrect. It is grammatical when similarly has an appropriate adverbial role in the sentence.

How to Use “Similarly To” Correctly

A useful pattern is:

Action verb + similarly to + comparison

For example:

The two machines function similarly to each other.

The children behaved similarly to the adults.

The new software responds similarly to the previous version.

The treatment works similarly to the earlier method.

In these examples, similarly modifies an action or process. The word to introduces the comparison.

The difference becomes clearer when the sentences are placed side by side:

The machines are similar to each other.

The machines function similarly to each other.

The first sentence describes the machines. The second describes their function.

There is another important use of similarly. It can appear without to as a sentence-level connector:

The first study found a significant difference. Similarly, the second study reported a noticeable change.

Here, similarly connects the two statements rather than directly comparing one noun with another.

Similar to vs. Similarly to: Main Differences

Feature	Similar to	Similarly to
Part of speech	Adjective	Adverb
Main function	Describes similarity between entities	Describes similarity between actions or processes
What it modifies	A noun or pronoun	A verb, action, or process
Common structure	Linking verb + similar to	Action verb + similarly to
Example	The two plans are similar to each other.	The two systems operate similarly to each other.

The most useful distinction is grammatical function.

In “The plans are similar to each other,” are links the subject to the adjective similar.

In “The systems operate similarly to each other,” operate is the action being described by the adverb similarly.

So, do not make your choice based only on the word to. Consider the sentence structure, syntax, and meaning.

Examples of Similar To in Sentences

Everyday Examples

Here are some natural examples:

• This shirt is similar to the one you bought last week.
• Your new apartment looks similar to mine.
• This dessert tastes similar to cheesecake.
• My brother’s car is similar to yours.
• The two restaurants have menus that are similar to each other.

In these examples, similar to compares people, objects, places, or their characteristics.

Academic Examples

The phrase also works naturally in academic contexts:

• The findings are similar to those of the previous study.
• The new theory is similar to an earlier model.
• The experimental results were similar to the predicted results.
• This pattern is similar to the one observed in another population.
• The structure of the two arguments is similar to each other.

These examples compare findings, theories, models, results, and structures.

Workplace Examples

You can also use similar to in professional communication:

• The revised proposal is similar to the version we discussed yesterday.
• This process is similar to the one used by our other department.
• The new report is similar to last quarter’s report.
• Her approach is similar to the strategy suggested by the team.
• The updated design looks similar to the original concept.

Here, the phrase compares plans, reports, processes, designs, and approaches.

Examples of Similarly To in Sentences

Similarly to works when similarly modifies an action, process, or behavior.

• The new device functions similarly to the older model.
• The two engines operate similarly to each other.
• The students responded similarly to the same question.
• The second group behaved similarly to the first group.
• The updated software performs similarly to the previous version.
• The new treatment works similarly to the established treatment.

The distinction is especially clear in this pair:

The two devices are similar to each other.

The two devices function similarly to each other.

The first tells you that the devices share characteristics. The second tells you that their functioning is comparable.

You can also use similarly without to:

The first experiment produced unexpected results. Similarly, the second experiment produced an unusual outcome.

In this sentence, similarly connects two related statements.

Common Mistakes With Similar and Similarly

Mistake 1: Using “Similar” as an Adverb

Because similar and similarly are closely related words, it is easy to use the adjective where an adverb is required.

For example:

The two machines operate similar to each other.

The problem is that similar cannot normally modify the action operate. Use the adverb similarly instead:

The two machines operate similarly to each other.

You could also write:

The two machines operate in a similar way.

The key issue is the grammatical function of the word describing the action.

Mistake 2: Using “Similarly” to Describe Nouns

The opposite mistake is using similarly where an adjective is needed.

For example:

The two designs are similarly to each other.

This structure does not work because similar is needed to describe the designs:

The two designs are similar to each other.

Remember:

• similar describes an entity.
• similarly describes an action, process, or manner.

Mistake 3: Assuming Both Phrases Are Interchangeable

Although the expressions are closely related, you cannot freely replace one with the other.

Compare:

The two products are similar to each other.

The two products perform similarly to each other.

The first sentence focuses on the products’ characteristics. The second focuses on their performance.

Changing one form to the other can therefore change the sentence structure or produce an awkward sentence. Instead, identify what you are comparing and what the comparison modifies.

Is “Similarly To” Grammatically Correct?

Yes. “Similarly to” is grammatically correct when the sentence structure supports its adverbial use.

For example:

The device functions similarly to the older model.

Here, similarly modifies functions. It tells us that the device functions in a way comparable to the older model.

Another example is:

Phosphorus behaves similarly to nitrogen.

Again, similarly describes the verb behaves.

The confusion usually comes from treating similarly to as though it were simply another version of similar to. The two expressions have different grammatical functions. Similar is an adjective, while similarly is an adverb.

Therefore, it would be too broad to say that similarly to is always wrong. It is valid when an adverb appropriately modifies an action or process.

At the same time, similarly to does not replace similar to. When you are describing a noun or pronoun directly, use the adjective:

The two methods are similar to each other.

When you are describing how the methods work, the adverb may be appropriate:

The two methods work similarly to each other.

The context and grammatical function determine the correct form.

Practical Rule: How to Choose the Right Form

Ask What You Are Describing

First, ask: Am I describing a thing, or am I describing an action?

If you are describing a person, thing, entity, or its characteristics, use similar to:

The two houses are similar to each other.

If you are describing an action, process, or behavior, similarly to may be appropriate:

The two machines operate similarly to each other.

This is a useful guide, not an absolute rule for every sentence.

Check the Verb

Next, look at the verb.

With a linking verb, an adjective often describes the subject:

The proposal is similar to the original.

The painting looks similar to the photograph.

With an action verb, an adverb can describe how the action occurs:

The machine operates similarly to the older model.

The students responded similarly to the question.

The key distinction is whether you are describing the subject or describing the action.

Try “In a Similar Way”

You can also test the meaning by replacing similarly with in a similar way.

For example:

The two systems operate similarly to each other.

This has essentially the same idea as:

The two systems operate in a similar way.

If that meaning fits naturally, similarly may be appropriate. Still, treat this as a helpful test rather than a fixed grammar rule. The complete context and syntax matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can “similarly to” be used at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, but similarly is more commonly used by itself as a sentence connector. For example: “Similarly, the second study reached the same conclusion.” When comparing an action directly with another action, similarly to can follow the verb: “The new system operates similarly to the old one.”

Q2. Can “similar to” describe actions?

Not directly. Similar is an adjective, so it normally describes a person, thing, or other noun. To describe how an action happens, use similarly, as in “The two machines operate similarly.”

Q3. Does “similar to” mean exactly the same as?

No. Similar to means that two or more things share certain characteristics, but they are not necessarily identical. “The two designs are similar” allows for differences between them.

Q4. Can “similarly” be used without “to”?

Yes. Similarly can stand alone as an adverb, especially when it connects related ideas or sentences. For example: “The first experiment produced positive results. Similarly, the second experiment was successful.”

Q5. Is “similarly to” always interchangeable with “similar to”?

No. The two forms have different grammatical functions. Similar to describes an entity, while similarly to describes an action, process, or manner. Replacing one with the other can change the sentence structure or make it grammatically awkward.

Q6. What is the easiest way to choose between “similar” and “similarly”?

Ask what you are describing. If you are describing what something is like, use similar. If you are describing how something happens or is done, use similarly. You can also test whether “similarly” could be replaced by “in a similar way” without changing the intended meaning.

Conclusion

Both similar to and similarly to can be correct, but they perform different grammatical jobs. Use similar to when similar describes a person, thing, idea, or other entity. Use similarly to when similarly describes how an action, process, or behavior occurs.

A simple way to choose is to look at what you are describing. If you are comparing things or their characteristics, similar to is usually the right structure. If you are comparing actions or the way something happens, similarly to may be appropriate.