Writing Tips

"Like" and "Such As"

In today's spoken English, the word like seems to have totally supplanted such as as the preposition of class comparison. But in formal written contexts, most editors still attempt to maintain a useful distinction between a like comparison and a such as comparison.

"Like" Excludes
A like comparison typically (though not always) names only one person or thing in the comparison class, and excludes that person or thing from the group being discussed. For example:

When a team has a goalie like Dominik Hasek, it might continue to win despite having slightly weaker defensive players.

This comparison talks speculatively about hockey teams whose goalies have abilities similar to Hasek's. The Buffalo Sabres and Hasek are specifically excluded as members of the group under discussion, because only teams that have goalies "like Hasek" (not Hasek himself) are included.

"Such As" Includes
A such as comparison can name one or several persons or things in the comparison class, but it typically includes those persons or things in the group being discussed. For example:

When hockey commentators such as Roy MacGregor or Don Cherry make controversial remarks, the buzz at the water cooler the next morning is louder than usual.

This comparison talks about hockey commentators as a class whose members include Roy MacGregor (print) and Don Cherry (television). The buzz around the water cooler increases whenever one of those particular men or other commentators in their class say something controversial.