English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
LIKE or SUCH AS?
“Like” introduces things that are similar to what one is talking about but not exactly it while “such as” means what follows are examples of what has been mentioned.
Grammar textbooks like “Grammar in Discourse Form” by Dr GAB and “English in Use” by Paul Anko will really help you. ✖️
Grammar textbooks such as “Grammar in Discourse Form” by Dr GAB and “English in Use” by Paul Anko will really help you. ✔️
The choice of “like” is wrong because the books mentioned are not similar to grammar textbooks, but are examples of grammar textbooks so “such as” should be used.
Good novels such as Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” will widen your vocabulary. ✖️
Good novels like Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” will widen your vocabulary. ✔️
“Like” is appropriate here because we are talking about other good novels that are similar to the one mentioned, not types of it.
The choice of “like” or “such as” can also determine the interpretation that a sentence takes as seen below:
I like novels like Soyinka’s The Interpreters and Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah (this means I like novels that are similar to these ones).
I like novels such as Soyinka’s The Interpreters and Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah (this means these are examples of the novels that I like).
GAB
