Like

#2 'LIKE': try not to use this word, which has several different meanings in English:

A. As a verb, 'to like' can mean 'to be fond of', 'to enjoy', or 'to be partial to'

This is the only acceptable use of 'like' in formal writing, as in the sentence:

"The teacher likes that student most of all; she is the teacher's pet!"

It is almost always better to substitute a formal alternative, such as:

"The teacher is fond of that student most of all; she is the teacher's pet!" or

"The teacher is most fond of that student; she is the teacher's pet!"

B. As a preposition, 'like' can mean 'similar to', 'akin to', 'approximating', 'reminiscent of', 'resembling', as in the sentence:

Informal: "The little girl wanted an ice cream just like her sister had."

Formal: "The little girl wanted an ice cream similar to the one her sister had."

Formal: "The little girl wanted an ice cream resembling the one her sister had."

In these two cases, and you must substitute more than one word in order to use the formal alternatives.

C. As an adjective, 'like' can mean 'similar', 'comparable' or 'approximately', as in the sentence:

Informal: "She gave her a present like that."

Acceptable: "She gave her a present of like kind."

Better: "She gave her a similar present."

D. In slang usage, 'like' can mean 'such as' or 'for example', as in the sentence:

Informal: "The man went to the store and bought fruit, like apples, oranges and bananas."

Formal: "The man went to the store and bought fruit, such as apples, oranges and bananas."

Better: "The man went to the store and bought fruit, for example, apples, oranges and bananas."

Do not use the expressions 'sort of like', or 'kind of like'.

Use the acceptable formal substitutes: 'for example' or 'such as'.

Never, ever, ever use 'like' to mean 'for example' in formal writing!