Like vs. Such as

Like and such as look similar, but they are not always the same.

Like: to compare

Like shows that one thing is similar to another. Here, you cannot use such as.

• She sings like a professional. (She is not one, but she sings in a similar way.)
• This app works like a personal coach.

• ❌ She sings such as a professional.
• ✅ She sings like a professional.

Such as: to give examples

Such as means “for example.” It introduces real examples of something.

• We used different methods, such as surveys, interviews, and group discussions.
• Many great psychologists, such as Dr. Lee and Dr. Johnson, studied memory.

In everyday English, like is also used to give examples (sports like tennis and golf). This is correct. Such as is a little more formal and often preferred in writing.