by way of comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

"by way of comparison" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to compare two different things. For example: "By way of comparison, a polar bear is much larger than a snowshoe hare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By way of comparison, 16% of respondents chose Westminster government.

The Guardian

The whole of Scotland, by way of comparison, contributed 8%.

The Economist

By way of comparison the Samsung Gear Live weighs 59g and the LG G Watch 63g.

The Guardian - Tech

(By way of comparison, stablemate Calvin Klein posted a 1% increase).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Camp David, by way of comparison, has two levels of restrictions.

The New York Times

By way of comparison, Iraq's education budget last year amounted to roughly $10 per citizen.

The New York Times

By way of comparison, Conservative voters give David Cameron a huge 93%to5%5% split.

The Guardian

By way of comparison, the Department of Defense works primarily with four committees.

The New York Times

By way of comparison, Cisco earned 54 cents a share in fiscal 2000.

The New York Times

(By way of comparison, the next-smallest broadcaster, the CW, averages 2.6 million a night).

The New York Times

Over the phone, he lists the "essential ingredients" of a cult by way of comparison.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by way of comparison" to introduce a piece of information that helps the reader understand a subject better through its similarities or differences with another.

Common error

Avoid using "by way of comparison" too frequently in your writing. Vary your comparative phrases to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding repetitive. Consider using simpler alternatives like "in comparison" or rephrasing your sentences to integrate the comparison more smoothly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by way of comparison" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a clause or sentence by indicating that a comparison is about to be made. Ludwig shows that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by way of comparison" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a comparative statement. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific writing. It is considered neutral to formal in register and is employed to clarify information by relating it to something else. While effective, overusing it should be avoided in favor of other comparative phrases like "in comparison" or "by contrast" to maintain a varied and engaging writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in comparison

Shorter and more direct, but carries the same comparative meaning.

when compared to

Directly states what the subject is being compared to.

comparatively speaking

Highlights that the statement is a comparison, often used to qualify a statement.

for the sake of comparison

Emphasizes the act of comparing rather than the comparison itself.

by contrast

Specifically indicates a difference, rather than a general comparison.

similarly

Indicates a likeness or similarity, the opposite of contrasting.

in a similar vein

Suggests something is alike in manner or style.

analogously

Presents a parallel or comparable situation.

in relation to

Broader than a direct comparison, indicating a relationship.

considering

Implies a comparison while also introducing a factor to take into account.

FAQs

How can I use "by way of comparison" in a sentence?

Use "by way of comparison" to introduce a statement that draws a comparison between two things. For example, "The city's population has doubled in the last decade; "by way of comparison", the population of the neighboring town has remained stagnant".

What are some alternatives to "by way of comparison"?

You can use alternatives like "in comparison", "comparatively speaking", or "by contrast" to introduce a comparison.

Is "by way of comparison" formal or informal?

"By way of comparison" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic writing.

What is the difference between "by way of comparison" and "by way of example"?

"By way of comparison" introduces a comparison between two or more things, while "by way of example" introduces an illustration or instance of something.