alike vs. identical

[Tho Tran Thi]

Dear friends,
I get a problem in distinguishing "alike" and "identical". For examples, in sentence:
"Peter and Paul are so.............that I cannot tell them apart". which adjective should used in this case? and what are the difference between them? could you explain for me?
Thank you very much.
Tho

[Alan]

Hi,

'Alike' suggests that there is a very strong similarity. 'Identical' suggests that the similarity is so strong that you can't see a difference.

I would rewrite your sentence as: Peter and Paul look identical and I can't tell them apart.

Alan
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