a comparable figure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a comparable figure" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing or comparing two or more items, entities, or data points that have similar characteristics or attributes. Example: "In the latest report, the analyst presented a comparable figure to illustrate the growth of the company over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Excluding one-time gains and charges, E*Trade earned $1.3 million, which was up from a comparable figure of $13.2 million a year earlier.

The New York Times

Moreover when the prevalence of stunting and underweight of the present study is compared with EDHS survey of the same year, we found a comparable figure All these taken might suggest that the sample could be represent significantly major parts of Ethiopia.

BMC Public Health

It's hard to think of a comparable figure.

The New York Times - Books

A comparable figure for 2008 was not available.

The New York Times - Sports

Realistically, if sadly, hardly anyone expects a comparable figure for head coaches any time soon.

The New Yorker

In those cases we have standardised the numbers to use a comparable figure.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

The NRA says a more comparable figure to Everytown's $37 million, though, is the $20 million the NRA's lobbying arm spent in 2014.

The Washington Post

As of this month, 255 Britons have applied for places in September, two-and-a-half times the comparable figure a year ago.

The Guardian

In 2007, the year before most airlines started charging extra for checking a bag, the comparable figure was $464.2 million.

The New York Times

In 2002 the government arbitrarily raised the minimum wage to an average of $100 per month, even while more than 40% of factories were reported to be operating at a loss (the comparable figure in 2001 was 35.6%).

Encyclopedia Britannica

King acknowledged that just 17 percent of his 11th-grade students passed the statewide achievement test last year, while in the Chicago public schools as a whole, the comparable figure was 29 percent.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the contexts for the figures being compared are sufficiently similar to warrant the comparison. Otherwise, the "comparable figure" might be misleading.

Common error

Avoid using "a comparable figure" when the data's underlying factors are significantly different, as this can lead to skewed perceptions or inaccurate conclusions. For example, comparing sales figures from different markets without considering local economic conditions can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a comparable figure" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an object or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its role in comparisons by providing many examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Academia

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a comparable figure" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for drawing comparisons between numerical data. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. When using this phrase, ensure the compared figures are relevant to prevent misinterpretation. Alternative expressions include "a similar number" or "a corresponding value", offering slight variations in emphasis while maintaining semantic equivalence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a similar number

Replaces "figure" with "number", emphasizing a numerical value that is alike.

a corresponding value

Uses "value" instead of "figure", highlighting the equivalent worth or measure.

an equivalent amount

Substitutes "figure" with "amount", focusing on quantity or size that is equal.

a parallel statistic

Replaces "figure" with "statistic", specifying a numerical fact that is alike in comparison.

a matching quantity

Uses "quantity" instead of "figure", highlighting an equal or corresponding amount.

a related measurement

Substitutes "figure" with "measurement", focusing on a similar metric or dimension.

a close approximation

Emphasizes that the values are nearly identical, offering a degree of estimation.

a representative value

Suggests the figure is typical and can be used to make comparisons.

a proportional amount

Implies that the figure is scaled and keeps the ratio or rate equivalent.

a corresponding indicator

Uses "indicator" instead of "figure", implying a similar marker or sign.

FAQs

How can I use "a comparable figure" in a sentence?

You can use "a comparable figure" to draw a comparison between two or more numerical values. For example, "The company's revenue this quarter is higher than "a comparable figure" from last year".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "a comparable figure"?

Several alternatives exist, such as "a similar number", "a corresponding value", or "an equivalent amount", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "a comparable figure" in writing?

It is appropriate when you want to highlight the similarity between two or more quantities, statistics, or values. Ensure that the items being compared are relevant to each other to avoid misleading the audience.

What's the difference between "a comparable figure" and "a relative figure"?

"A comparable figure" indicates a direct similarity in value, while "a relative figure" suggests a value is being considered in relation to something else, such as a percentage or ratio.