a crude comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a crude comparison" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a comparison that is simplistic, rough, or lacking in sophistication. Example: "While the analogy was meant to clarify the concept, it ultimately served as a crude comparison that oversimplified the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Using a crude comparison of a company's annual revenue and its domicile's economic output, The Economist has identified the firms with the greatest national clout across 53 markets.

The Economist

"I just did a crude comparison - and it was back when the pound was strong - which is why we ended up with a £25,000 commitment in the UK".

The Guardian

A crude comparison of patients with ICH treated or not with continuous osmotherapy was first performed.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

It's a crude comparison — it doesn't allow for variations in how well different industrial sectors are doing — but there's some rough justice to these lists.

Forbes

Any BSI may be contaminated by false reports or contagion effects so that a crude comparison of BSI's across different groups is not appropriate.

Applied Mathematics Letters

It's a crude comparison, but it might be apt.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

For quartets, a tight comparison can be made using the FC-based approach suggested in Section Fisher's Criterion for Separability, and for larger trees, a cruder comparison can be made using a plot like the one presented in Figure 1b.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

3) The hypothesis of CLR01 binding to individual lysine and arginine residues is not experimentally tested outside of a rather crude comparison of an all-alanine replacement peptide (which likely doesn't conform to the same structure as the native peptide).

eLife

It might seem like a slightly crude comparison, but there are some similarities, with both women and Jews frequently being othered by a world that presents them with no alternative home.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Crude comparison was made with a historical group of consecutive critically ill patients who received CRRT without heparin prior to the introduction of the RCA protocol.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

For medications with < 10 users, we used the Wilcoxon test for the crude comparison and also conducted a matched analysis by comparing each exposed subject with 5 randomly selected unexposed subjects matched on sex, age, race, and NHANES survey cycle.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a crude comparison", acknowledge its limitations to maintain credibility. For example, preface it with phrases like "While this is a crude comparison..." or "As a crude comparison, it can be said that..."

Common error

Avoid presenting "a crude comparison" as definitive or conclusive. Always emphasize its approximate nature to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a crude comparison" functions as a noun phrase, where 'crude' modifies the noun 'comparison'. It describes the nature or quality of the comparison being made. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and used to denote a basic or unsophisticated comparison.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a crude comparison" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that signifies a simplistic or basic comparison. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. While it appears frequently in scientific and news-related articles, it's crucial to acknowledge the limitations of such comparisons. To enhance clarity and avoid misinterpretations, qualify its approximate nature, and consider using alternatives like "a rough comparison" or "a basic comparison" as appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a rough comparison

Replaces "crude" with "rough", suggesting a lack of precision but maintaining the basic meaning.

a simplistic comparison

Substitutes "crude" with "simplistic", highlighting the lack of complexity in the comparison.

a basic comparison

Replaces "crude" with "basic", indicating a fundamental or elementary level of comparison.

a preliminary comparison

Indicates the comparison is initial and may not be thorough or refined.

a rudimentary comparison

Emphasizes the underdeveloped and unsophisticated nature of the comparison.

a back-of-the-envelope comparison

Implies the comparison is quick, informal, and based on limited data.

an inexact comparison

Focuses on the lack of precision and accuracy in the comparison.

a superficial comparison

Highlights that the comparison only examines the surface level without deeper analysis.

a naive comparison

Suggests the comparison is unsophisticated and lacks experience or understanding.

a plain comparison

Indicates a straightforward and uncomplicated comparison, possibly lacking nuance.

FAQs

How can "a crude comparison" be used effectively in writing?

Use "a crude comparison" to provide a basic understanding of a complex topic, but always acknowledge its limitations. It's helpful for initial explanations but shouldn't be used as a final, definitive analysis.

What are some alternatives to saying "a crude comparison"?

You can use alternatives like "a rough comparison", "a simplistic comparison", or "a basic comparison" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a crude comparison"?

It is appropriate to use "a crude comparison" when you need to quickly illustrate a point without delving into detailed analysis. However, always clarify that it's an oversimplification and not a comprehensive assessment.

What does "a crude comparison" imply about the analysis?

Using "a crude comparison" implies that the analysis is not precise or detailed. It suggests that the comparison is based on readily available information and may overlook important nuances or complexities.