diff --git a/lib/normalic/address.rb b/lib/normalic/address.rb
index 7acf0d5..e6f0ee5 100644
--- a/lib/normalic/address.rb
+++ b/lib/normalic/address.rb
@@ -74,11 +74,7 @@ def line1
     end
 
     def ==(other)
-      if self.to_s == other.to_s
-        true
-      else
-        false
-      end
+      self.to_s == other.to_s ? true : false
     end
 
     def match_essential?(other)
diff --git a/lib/normalic/phone_number.rb b/lib/normalic/phone_number.rb
index 28697db..86e0bea 100644
--- a/lib/normalic/phone_number.rb
+++ b/lib/normalic/phone_number.rb
@@ -43,11 +43,7 @@ def []=(field_name, value)
     end
 
     def ==(other)
-      if self.to_s == other.to_s
-        true
-      else
-        false
-      end
+      self.to_s == other.to_s ? true : false
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/normalic/uri.rb b/lib/normalic/uri.rb
index 7642f52..45ed9fc 100644
--- a/lib/normalic/uri.rb
+++ b/lib/normalic/uri.rb
@@ -93,11 +93,16 @@ def []=(field_name, value)
     end
 
     def ==(other)
-      if self.to_s == other.to_s
-        true
-      else
-        false
-      end
+      self.to_s == other.to_s ? true : false
+    end
+
+    def match_essential?(other)
+      return false unless tld == other.tld
+      return false unless domain == other.domain
+      return false unless subdomain == other.subdomain ||
+                          (subdomain == 'www' && !other.subdomain) ||
+                          (!subdomain && other.subdomain == 'www')
+      true
     end
 
     private
diff --git a/spec/normalic_spec.rb b/spec/normalic_spec.rb
index 1ef38e4..06d93d8 100644
--- a/spec/normalic_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/normalic_spec.rb
@@ -60,6 +60,24 @@
     uri[:query_hash].should == nil
     uri[:fragment].should == nil
   end
+
+  it "should match_essential? a nil subdomain against a 'www' subdomain" do
+    uri1 = Normalic::URI.parse("http://www.github.com")
+    uri2 = Normalic::URI.parse("http://github.com")
+    uri1.match_essential?(uri2).should == true
+  end
+
+  it "should match_essential? using the subdomain, domain, and tld" do
+    uri1 = Normalic::URI.parse("http://www.hyperpublic.com")
+    uri2 = Normalic::URI.parse("http://oxcart.hyperpublic.com")
+    uri1.match_essential?(uri2).should == false
+  end
+
+  it "should match_essential? using ONLY the subdomain, domain, and tld" do
+    uri1 = Normalic::URI.parse("http://www.hyperpublic.com/placesplus")
+    uri2 = Normalic::URI.parse("http://www.hyperpublic.com/deals")
+    uri1.match_essential?(uri2).should == true
+  end
 end