The expressions same, for same and the same are most frequently used in business correspondence as informal replacements for it, this or them.
- Shops are full of goods and people ready to buy same.
However, specific pronouns are required in formal writing.
- Shops are full of goods and people ready to buy them (not same).
- Once the renovation is finished, please bill me for it (not for same).
- As soon as the report is ready, you will receive it (not the same).
Copyright notice for Writing Tips Plus
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Search by related themes
Want to learn more about a theme discussed on this page? Click on a link below to see all the pages on the Language Portal of Canada that relate to the theme you selected. The search results will be displayed in Language Navigator.
Related links
- Writing Tips Plus (home page)
- Writing tools
- Language Navigator (for fast access to language tips)
- TERMIUM Plus®