assess against

USAGE SUMMARY

"assess against" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing and contrasting two or more things. Example sentence: We assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the two software systems against each other.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The N.C.A.A. is still considering what sanctions to assess against the university, which spent nearly $1.9 million on its basketball investigation.

The New York Times - Sports

Furthermore, there is a growing share of temporary employment among the young in Germany, although the development is difficult to assess against the background of Germany's sizable apprenticeship system, which is responsible for about half of all temporary contracts.

Journal for Labour Market Research

The list might also be valuable to assess against new interventions, and understand potential mechanisms of effect.

British Journal of Psychiatry

Differences in the group characteristics; age, socioeconomic status (using postcode to assess against the Socioeconomic Index for Advantage (SEIFA), [ 40] remoteness (using the Accessibility and Remoteness Index for Australia [ 41]), marital status, and age of infant were assessed.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They will be assessed against four criteria.

Independent

Yet problems must be assessed against solutions.

The Guardian - Opinion

What penalties, if any, will be assessed against the Saints?

The New Yorker

In New York City, the tickets are $50, but no points are assessed against the driver's license.

The New York Times

The remaining 5percentt was assessed against MBIA Inc., which insured some of the mortgage-backed securities.

The New York Times

It was the largest such penalty ever assessed against a domestic bank.

The New York Times

Each candidate's performance is assessed against the competencies essential for the job.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "assess against" to show comparison; provide enough information about what is being compared and what aspects are relevant to the assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "assess against" without specifying the basis for comparison. For example, instead of saying 'The project was assessed against other projects', specify 'The project was assessed against other projects based on budget, timeline and deliverables'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assess against" serves as a comparative verb phrase, indicating the process of evaluating something in relation to a specific standard or another entity. Ludwig examples showcase its application across diverse fields, from sports sanctions to model validations, highlighting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assess against" is a grammatically correct comparative verb phrase used to evaluate something in relation to a standard or another entity. According to Ludwig, it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, with a neutral register. The phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news media contexts. Related alternatives include "evaluate in relation to" and "measure up against". Remember to clearly define the basis of comparison when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evaluate in relation to

This phrase emphasizes the act of evaluating something considering its relationship to something else.

measure up against

This phrase suggests a comparison to a standard or benchmark to determine the quality or suitability of something.

compare in contrast to

This highlights the comparison of elements to emphasize their differences.

weigh against

Implies a careful consideration of something's importance or impact compared to something else.

judge in light of

Focuses on making a judgment or forming an opinion based on specific information or context.

test against

Suggests putting something through a test or trial to see how it performs in relation to something else.

benchmark against

This relates something to a known good example, model or baseline in order to compare them to each other.

scrutinize with respect to

This refers to the close, critical observation of something as it relates to a particular point.

check in comparison with

This suggests verifying something via direct comparison.

determine relative to

This highlights establishing the position, value or amount relative to something else.

FAQs

How can I use "assess against" in a sentence?

You can use "assess against" when you want to compare something to another thing or a standard, for example: "The model predictions were "assessed against" experimental data."

What does "assess against" mean?

"Assess against" means to evaluate something by comparing it with another thing or some established criteria.

What are some alternatives to "assess against"?

Some alternatives include "evaluate in relation to", "measure up against", or "compare in contrast to".

Is "assess against" formal or informal?

"Assess against" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, depending on the context. It is commonly used in academic, scientific, and professional settings.