by comparing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by comparing to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when contrasting or making a comparison between two or more things. For example, "We can discover the difference between these two products by comparing their features to each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We evaluated the segmentation results by comparing to manual as well as automatically generated ground truth.

Nature

Metabolites were identified by comparing to database entries of authentic standards67.

Nature

We determined the relative enrichment of each candidate TF at target DNA fragments by comparing to IgG controls.

Nature

We evaluate the accuracy of our approximations by comparing to the much more expensive process of re-fitting the model.

University of California, Berkeley

By comparing to an alternative treatment plan (e.g. IMRT), the dosimetric advantages of PBT can be evaluated for this patient.

Harvard University

The code was verified by comparing to a number of benchmarks with CXTFIT 2.0.

Computers & Geosciences

The validation of the modeling is done by comparing to a glass bead/water jet testing.

Wear

The model is validated by comparing to the literature results and Ansys results, showing good agreement.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Both methods are benchmarked by comparing to analytical solutions for homogeneous hydrogel layers and hydrogel bilayers.

Mechanics of Materials

Results are validated by comparing to a scaled physical model tow test.

Aquacultural Engineering

By comparing to experimental data, the numerical relative error is increasing with transmembrane pressure.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by comparing to", ensure that the items being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Validate your results by comparing to experimental data, not just theoretical predictions."

Common error

Avoid comparing dissimilar items. Ensure that the elements being compared are logically related and share common attributes. For instance, instead of saying "Evaluate product A by comparing to customer satisfaction", specify "Evaluate product A by comparing to product B".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by comparing to" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a method of evaluation or validation. As supported by Ludwig, this structure is used to indicate that a comparison is being made to understand or assess something in relation to another thing. The examples show this usage in both scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

86%

Academia

7%

News & Media

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by comparing to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase. As noted by Ludwig AI, it serves to introduce a method of evaluation through comparison. Its prevalence in scientific and academic literature indicates a formal and precise register. While "by comparing to" is generally "correct", ensure that you maintain parallel structure and compare logically similar items. Alternatives like "through comparison with" or "in contrast to" offer subtle shifts in emphasis. The frequency of examples on Ludwig AI marks this phrase as "very common", underscoring its utility in formal writing for justifying conclusions and validating models.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

through comparison with

This alternative emphasizes the process of using comparison as a means of understanding.

in contrast to

This phrase highlights the differences rather than similarities between the compared items.

relative to

This option indicates a comparison against a specific reference point or standard.

assessing against

This choice emphasizes the evaluation aspect of comparing to a set standard or criteria.

evaluating alongside

This option suggests a simultaneous assessment during the process of comparison.

measuring against

This alternative implies quantifying the differences or similarities during the comparison.

drawing a parallel with

This suggests highlighting resemblances and analogies during the act of comparison.

considering in relation to

This stresses the importance of context and interconnectedness in the comparison.

in light of

This conveys that the comparison is done to better understand something.

by way of comparison

This is a more formal and emphatic way of introducing a comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "by comparing to" in a sentence?

You can use "by comparing to" to show how you are evaluating something. For example, "We validated our model by comparing to the experimental results."

What are some alternatives to "by comparing to"?

Some alternatives include "through comparison with", "in contrast to", and "relative to" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "by comparing to"?

It is appropriate to use "by comparing to" when you want to emphasize the process of evaluating something by examining its similarities and differences with something else.

What is the difference between "by comparing to" and "in comparison with"?

While both phrases are similar, "by comparing to" emphasizes the action of comparing, whereas "in comparison with" emphasizes the state or result of the comparison.