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ReDSanchous Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Not + dissimilar
I read that the word 'dissimilar' is frequently used with the particle 'not', isn't it? When I came across a couple of sentences with this word I discovered that the construction looks rather strange to me. For example, can I rephrase the sentence - This house is not dissimilar to the one I was born in - as follows - This house looks like the one I was born in - or should I say: This house doesn't look like the one I was born in?
I think that the first rephrased sentence is correct.
I'm sorry for placing this thread in this forum. I wanted to place it in "General English grammar questions" but mixed up the names.
I think that the first rephrased sentence is correct.
I'm sorry for placing this thread in this forum. I wanted to place it in "General English grammar questions" but mixed up the names.
Top answer
not dissimilar = more or less similar but not that much like; no less than 100 answers = 100 answers or more
- not dissimilar = more or less similar but not that much like; no less than 100 answers = 100 answers or more
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6 Answers
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not dissimilar = more or less similar but not that much
like;
no less than 100 answers = 100 answers or more
like;
no less than 100 answers = 100 answers or more
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This is considered a double negative and they cancel each other out to make a positive. YOu are correct that the sentence "This is not dissimiliar" means "This is similar."
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Thank you. I was pleased to hear that I was right in saying 'not dissimilar' meant 'similar'.
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The easy answer is that "not dissimilar" means "similar". It's true in an obvious way. But the use of that sort of double negative gives an extra layer of meaning not completely captured in the easy answer.
Whenever someone says something convoluted like "not dissimilar" when the simpler "similar" would do, we need to ask - Why the complication?
The reason is to avoid sayi
Whenever someone says something convoluted like "not dissimilar" when the simpler "similar" would do, we need to ask - Why the complication?
The reason is to avoid sayi
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Hope someone responds to this msg.. have the same while transcribing ---
Its pattern is not dissimilar to that seen -- not and dissimilar can be used together...? I would like someones advice on those two as well.
Its pattern is not dissimilar to that seen -- not and dissimilar can be used together...? I would like someones advice on those two as well.
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