apple to apple

USAGE SUMMARY

"apple to apple" can be used in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression which means to compare or judge two items side by side, usually to assess their relative merits or qualities. For example, "Let's compare the two models of car side by side, apple to apple."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Not per Day! so it is an apple to apple comparison.

University of California, Berkeley

It also will allow you to have a better chance of having an apple to apple comparison of different systems.

Metal Finishing

"The battle has shifted from Microsoft against Apple to Apple against Google," said Tim Bajarin, a technology analyst who has been following Apple since 1981.

The New York Times

You wouldn't necessarily be able to compare results apple to apple with other schools, but you would be creating a dynamic way of examining young people's knowledge, competencies and skills.

The Guardian

Apple shape referred to more weight around the waist (e.g. WHR greater than 0.9 in male), as BMI increases, the body shape varied from "Chilli apple", to "Apple" and then to "Big apple", so as the "Pear" and "Pear-apple" shape.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For economies, such apple-to-apple comparisons are not possible.

The Economist

"When we implement that next July we'll be able to make apple-to-apple comparisons," he said.

The New York Times - Health

The provision would ease apple-to-apple comparisons but may be unpopular with private-school administrators, some of whom may feel they are at a disadvantage because they don't teach to the test.

The Washington Post

Sean Collins, a senior economist at the institute and the author of its study, says a "plausible way to make an apple-to-apple comparison" between funds and pensions is to limit the fund universe to those that hire third parties, or subadvisers, to manage their portfolios.

The New York Times

Comparing apples-to-apples, the Stanford POS tagger isn't slow.

Stanford University

Experts say making apples-to-apples comparisons is difficult.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "apple to apple", ensure that the items being compared are genuinely similar to avoid misleading conclusions. For example, compare the features of two smartphones rather than a smartphone and a feature phone.

Common error

Avoid using "apple to apple" when comparing fundamentally different things. For instance, it's not an apple to apple comparison to evaluate the success of a small business based on metrics applicable to multinational corporations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apple to apple" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the manner in which a comparison is made. It emphasizes that the comparison should be fair and equitable, as noted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "apple to apple" is used to describe a fair and direct comparison. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and idiomatic. While it appears across various sources, it’s relatively rare in occurrence. To ensure accuracy in your writing, use this phrase when you want to emphasize that the items being compared are genuinely similar, avoiding any skewed or misleading evaluations. Remember, an apple to apple comparison keeps things equitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fair comparison

This alternative uses a more general term for a comparison that is equitable and unbiased.

equivalent comparison

This phrase stresses the equality of the items being compared, highlighting that they are of the same type or standard.

like-for-like comparison

This alternative directly conveys the idea of comparing similar items, emphasizing their resemblance.

parallel comparison

This suggests that the comparison is structured to show similarities or differences between similar elements.

head-to-head comparison

This emphasizes a direct confrontation or competition between the items being compared.

side-by-side comparison

This indicates that the items are placed together to facilitate easy comparison.

direct comparison

This phrase highlights that the comparison is straightforward and without intermediaries.

equal terms

This suggests comparing things under conditions where there is no undue advantage.

on a level playing field

This idiom emphasizes that the comparison is conducted in a setting where all participants have the same opportunities.

balanced comparison

This implies that the comparison considers all relevant factors equally, avoiding bias.

FAQs

How can I use "apple to apple" in a sentence?

You can use "apple to apple" to indicate a fair and direct comparison. For example, "To make an /s/fair+comparison target="_blank" rel="nofollow">fair comparison of the two products, we need to compare them apple to apple."

What does "apple to apple" mean?

The phrase "apple to apple" means comparing similar things in a way that is fair and relevant, focusing on equivalent aspects or features. It emphasizes the need for a /s/like-for-like+comparison target="_blank" rel="nofollow">like-for-like comparison.

What's the difference between "apple to apple" and "apples and oranges"?

"Apple to apple" signifies a fair comparison between similar items, whereas "apples and oranges" indicates that the items are too different to be compared meaningfully. It's important to discern an /s/equivalent+comparison target="_blank" rel="nofollow">equivalent comparison versus an impossible one.

What can I say instead of "apple to apple"?

Alternatives include "fair comparison", "like-for-like comparison", or "equivalent comparison depending on the context".