by making a comparison between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by making a comparison between" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing similarities or differences between two or more subjects or items. Example: "By making a comparison between the two novels, we can better understand the authors' differing perspectives on society."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The effect of random placement of CFPs was investigated by making a comparison between the RRP and conventional uniform models.

Annals of Nuclear Energy

Someone asks her a sensible question and she answers by making a comparison between perfume and a multi-storey car park.

The Guardian - Arts

The validation of the FE model is done by making a comparison between Frequency Response Functions (FRF) from the GVT and the FE model at some response points.

Aerospace Science and Technology

Serious deviations are found in high speed condition by making a comparison between the quasi-static and tribo-dynamic simulation results, validating the importance of tribo-dynamic model.

Tribology International

A French judge has dismissed the charges that Bob Dylan "incited racial hate" by making a comparison between Croatians and Nazis in an interview with Rolling Stone, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The Guardian - Music

Probe for specific behaviors to better understand what your manager means: "What did I say or do that made my framing strategic?" Now they might say, "You started by making a comparison between the competitive landscape and the customer's problem.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

An example is given by Michael MacDonald Ross and Rob Waller (2000) where they discuss a misinformed translation of numbers into rows of pictograms in a study by psychologist Margaret Vernon in the 1940s making a comparison between the Isotype approach and line graphs.

Nature

In summary, SNPTracker has three advantageous features: (i) SNPTracker can trace variants without rs IDs through coordinates; (ii) SNPTracker can produce more detailed annotation for problematic variants; (iii) SNPTracker can trace more variants that were reported to have unknown IDs by LiftRsNumber; We also made a comparison between SNPTracker and dbSNP Batch Query (2005).

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

This approach gives a more pragmatic estimate of the effect of IPTi, by making a direct comparison between IPTi and routine case-management of malaria.

Plosone

However, we also validated the technique by making a direct comparison between the performance of the CPH substrates and activity data determined by the PAHBAH method to measure the release of reducing ends [ 17].

Biotechnology for Biofuels

In the current paper, these two main hypotheses are differentiated by making a direct comparison between the key dataset in the gesture literature (Kita & Özyürek, 2003) and new corresponding data from the current study on a large group of speakers with aphasia.

Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "by making a comparison between", ensure that the items being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Provide context for why the comparison is relevant to your overall argument or analysis.

Common error

Avoid vague comparisons. Instead of saying "by making a comparison between data", specify which datasets or variables are being compared and what aspects are being contrasted (e.g., "by making a comparison between last quarter's sales figures and this quarter's projections").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by making a comparison between" functions as a prepositional phrase, introducing a method of analysis or evaluation. It indicates that understanding or insight is gained through the act of comparing two or more entities, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by making a comparison between" is a grammatically sound and useful construction for introducing a comparative analysis. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase is most commonly found in science, news, and academic contexts, indicating its suitability for formal and analytical writing. While alternatives exist, such as "comparing" or "through a comparison of", using the full phrase can add emphasis and clarity to the reasoning process. Remember to clearly define the items being compared to avoid any ambiguity. Ludwig's analysis confirms the phrase's correctness and applicability in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comparing

This is a simpler and more direct way of expressing the same idea, focusing on the act of comparison itself.

in comparing

Adds a preposition to highlight the act of comparison.

through a comparison of

This emphasizes the comparison as a method or process.

via comparison

A concise way of stating that something is done through comparison.

by contrasting

Focuses on highlighting the differences between things.

when comparing

Introduces a conditional element to the comparison.

making comparisons

This emphasizes the action of making multiple comparisons.

assessing relative to

Highlights the evaluation aspect of comparing.

evaluating against

Focuses on judging one thing based on another.

weighing up against

Suggests a more deliberate and thoughtful comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "by making a comparison between" in a sentence?

You can use "by making a comparison between" to introduce a comparative analysis. For example, "By making a comparison between the two research methods, we identified the strengths and weaknesses of each".

What are some alternatives to "by making a comparison between"?

Alternatives include "comparing", "through a comparison of", or "by contrasting" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make a comparison" or "do a comparison"?

"Make a comparison" is generally preferred over "do a comparison" in formal writing. While both are understandable, "make a comparison" is more idiomatic and sounds more natural.

What's the difference between "by making a comparison between" and "in contrast to"?

"By making a comparison between" introduces a process of comparing multiple items, while "in contrast to" /s/in+contrast+to directly highlights the differences between two specific things.