be considered against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'be considered against' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something should be considered in comparison to something else. For example: "The proposal must be considered against other options before a decision is made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Would that be considered against the law?

The New York Times

Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, recommended that disciplinary action be considered against Mr. Felton.

The New York Times

The possible "first" President Obama described must be considered against that recent history.

The New Yorker

Your complaint will be considered against the published policy on the date of receipt of your complaint.

The Guardian

Harry Waddle, communications officer at Nottingham University, warned students disciplinary action would be considered against those writing defamatory posts.

Independent

8.29am BST George Osborne has warned that further sanctions will be considered against Russia if it fails to co-operate over access to the MH17 crash site.

The Guardian

Through a spokesman, Eric Phillips, Ms. Rice declined to say whether criminal charges might be considered against the anesthesiologist, Dr. Harvey S. Finkelstein.

The New York Times

Most of these are not listed as potential school sites in councils' development plans, despite government guidance saying planning applications should usually be considered against these documents.

The Guardian

These studies must be considered against prior research that suggests that low-income neighborhoods do suffer from inequitable access to healthy food.

The New York Times

In a concurring opinion today, Justice Dorit Beinisch wrote that "the considerations of state security and the integrity of Israeli society must be considered against the arguments of conscience and belief, however sincere".

The New York Times

The proceedings in Jersey must be considered against the backdrop of the opinion of the Privy Council in relation to the activities of the Jersey police and other persons in authority in the original cannabis case".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be considered against", ensure that the comparison is clearly stated to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify what factors are being weighed against each other.

Common error

Avoid using "be considered against" without explicitly stating what the subject is being compared to. This omission can lead to confusion and weaken the argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be considered against" functions as a passive construction used to express that a subject is being evaluated or judged in relation to another factor. Ludwig examples show the phrase in contexts where a decision or assessment is made by weighing different aspects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be considered against" is a versatile passive construction used to indicate that something should be evaluated or judged in relation to another factor. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently in both scientific and news-related contexts. When using "be considered against", ensure clarity by explicitly stating the points of comparison. Remember that effective usage relies on presenting a clear and well-defined comparison to enhance understanding. Alternatives such as "be evaluated against" or ""be weighed against"" can provide subtle differences in emphasis, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be evaluated against

Focuses on formal assessment or appraisal rather than general consideration.

be weighed against

Emphasizes the balancing of competing factors or considerations.

be judged against

Highlights the act of making a judgment based on a specific standard.

be compared with

Implies a direct comparison to identify similarities and differences.

be assessed in light of

Suggests evaluating something with a full understanding of the circumstances.

be examined in relation to

Emphasizes a detailed inspection of how something connects to another element.

be viewed in the context of

Highlights the importance of understanding the surrounding circumstances.

be measured against

Stresses the use of a specific benchmark or metric for evaluation.

be balanced against

Implies carefully considering opposing factors to reach a decision.

be contrasted with

Highlights the differences between two or more things being considered.

FAQs

How can I use "be considered against" in a sentence?

You can use "be considered against" to show that something should be evaluated or weighed in relation to something else. For example, "The benefits of the policy must "be weighed against" its potential costs."

What's a formal alternative to "be considered against"?

A more formal alternative would be "be evaluated against". This alternative is suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is it better to use "be compared to" or "be considered against"?

The best choice depends on the context. "Be compared to" is used for highlighting similarities, while "be considered against" implies a more critical assessment where pros and cons are weighed.

What does it mean when something "must be considered against" a backdrop?

It means the topic should "be viewed in the context of" a larger set of circumstances or a particular history to fully understand its implications.