June 8, 2006: Issue 142
The phrase “such as” introduces a specific example:
A vintage piece, such as this 1948 dresser, adds instant character.
He’s a fan of midcentury touches, such as the low-slung sofa in the family room.
The word “like” introduces a comparison:
She searched for a vintage dresser like her neighbor’s.
He bought a midcentury sofa like the low-slung model in Lucy and Ricky Ricardo’s apartment.
Note that “such as” includes the words that follow. A 1948 dresser is a vintage piece; a low-slung sofa is a midcentury touch. “Like,” on the other hand, excludes the words that follow. She wasn’t actually looking for her neighbor’s dresser; he didn’t buy the sofa from the I Love Lucy set.
INDESIGN TIP: To read copy in a text-only window, click inside a text box, then go to the Edit menu and select Edit in Story Editor, or just type apple-y. To return to the layout, go to the Edit menu and select Edit in Layout, or type apple-y again. (You can choose the colors, font, and type size for this window. Go to the InDesign menu and select Preferences, then Story Editor Display.)
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