as opposed to that of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as opposed to that of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to contrast one thing with another, often in discussions or comparisons. Example: "The study focuses on the effects of climate change on marine life, as opposed to that of terrestrial ecosystems."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Muhly says that, even as a boy, he was fascinated by the emotional function of church music as opposed to that of concert music.

The New Yorker

The vice-president made it clear that the views were his personally, as opposed to that of the administration, prefacing the comments with "the president sets the policy".

The Guardian

For this argument to work, a species must itself have the character of an individual, as opposed to that of a mere collection of individuals.

The New York Times - Books

The same person would turn out quite differently if raised in, say, the culture of Bali as opposed to that of the traditional Sioux Indians.

The New York Times - Books

A notable feature is Basil's strong preference for the monastic life, in which brotherly love can be practiced, as opposed to that of the hermit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The partnership of Rodgers and Hart (as opposed to that of Rodgers and his later collaborator, Oscar Hammerstein II) belonged largely to the 1920s and '30s.

The New York Times

Why credit the view of that particular Evangelist as opposed to that of the other three who imply that both thieves were damned?

Independent

The speed with which First Great Western – as opposed to that of their trains aiming for Ireland-Canada in Cardiff – apologised for underestimating Rugby World Cup demand suggested that talk of renationalisation has reached the boardroom too.

The Guardian - Sport

And we're our own worst problem in terms of the marketing and projecting" — of burnishing the mystique of the black athlete as opposed to that of the black professional.

The New Yorker

Although it was placed below the one for Mickey Rooney, it was longer and the contrast between the two illustrated the nature of modern celebrity as opposed to that of old Hollywood.

The Guardian

The church has rightly decided to grapple with the question of the demonstration from the perspective of a moral community as opposed to that of a property management company.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as opposed to that of" to clearly delineate between two distinct entities or concepts, ensuring the comparison is explicit and avoids ambiguity. For instance, "the focus is on preventative measures, as opposed to that of reactive strategies."

Common error

Avoid using "as opposed to that of" when the 'that' is unclear or missing, ensure you have a parallel grammatical structure for clarity. For example, instead of saying 'The benefits of A, as opposed to that of,' specify what 'that' refers to: 'The benefits of A, as opposed to that of B.'

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as opposed to that of" functions as a contrastive marker, indicating a distinction or difference between two things. It sets up a comparison, highlighting the unique characteristics of one entity relative to another. As Ludwig AI states, it serves to contrast one thing with another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as opposed to that of" is a versatile and grammatically sound tool for making clear distinctions between two entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to contrast one element with another, clarifying differences and highlighting specific qualities. The phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news media contexts, suggesting a formal register. While alternatives like "in contrast to that of" or "rather than that of" exist, "as opposed to that of" offers a precise way to ensure grammatical parallelism in comparisons. Remember to use it with clear referents to avoid ambiguity, and use less verbose options such as "as opposed to" where applicable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in contrast to that of

This alternative maintains a strong sense of direct opposition, emphasizing a clear distinction.

rather than that of

This option suggests a preference or choice between two possibilities.

compared to that of

This phrase highlights a comparison, focusing on similarities and differences.

unlike that of

This alternative emphasizes the differences between two things.

in lieu of that of

This option suggests a substitution or replacement.

instead of that of

This indicates a preference or selection of one thing over another.

as distinct from that of

This emphasizes the separate and different nature of two entities.

different from that of

A general way to point out dissimilarities.

opposed to

This alternative is more concise but may lack the specific reference provided by "that of".

contrary to that of

Highlights that something goes against another thing.

FAQs

How can I use "as opposed to that of" in a sentence?

Use "as opposed to that of" to contrast two related elements. For example, "The emphasis is on practical application, "as opposed to that of" theoretical knowledge."

What phrases are similar to "as opposed to that of"?

Similar phrases include "in contrast to that of", "rather than that of", and "compared to that of". These phrases can be used to highlight differences or present alternatives.

Is "as opposed to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "as opposed to" is grammatically correct. However, "as opposed to that of" is used when you want to make a direct comparison between two specific things, ensuring the comparison is clear and grammatically parallel. If you don't need to emphasize the comparison, "as opposed to" might suffice.

When should I use "as opposed to that of" instead of "as opposed to"?

Use "as opposed to that of" when comparing attributes or characteristics of two nouns, ensuring grammatical parallelism. For instance, "The advantages of this method, "as opposed to that of" the previous one, are clear." If you are just setting one option against another without comparing particular aspects, use "as opposed to".