comparative to

USAGE SUMMARY

"comparative to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to compare two or more things, usually in the context of "comparing to" or "in comparison to," as in the following example: The average salary of a public school teacher in the United States is now much higher comparative to what it was 30 years ago.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Back at work within the statutory year, earnings tend to decline comparative to those who have not been on leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

The cost of sago also affected threefold production cost of butanol comparative to other feedstocks.

Applied Energy

The void function obtained from the drag coefficient for multiparticle system was comparative to the experimental data.

Chemical Engineering Science

The fatigue strengths of the welds are comparative to or lower than those of the parent materials.

International Journal of Fatigue

The study uses the projected downscaled daily inflow from Global Climate Models (GCMs) in comparative to the historical peak inflows.

Journal of Hydrology

We also found that the sequential method with appropriately selected time domains is comparative to the whole time-domain method.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

has shown that there exist some unsupervised methods, which are comparative to supervised methods in effort-aware JIT-SDP.

Information and Software Technology

26 exhibited IC50on MLCK assay of 2.1 ± 1.7 μM with selectivity of L-type calcium channels and comparative to Nifedipine.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry

It is indisputable that successive governments since the 1970s have failed to address the issue of paying MPs a wage that is commensurate with the work they do and comparative to some arguable equivalent job.

The Guardian - Opinion

Peterson's elevator pitch is that the NASL has a low barrier for entry, and a lack of regulation comparative to MLS, which makes it a less complicated investment for any party looking to put money into North American soccer.

The Guardian - Sport

To have a modern equivalent of anything requires the original comparative to be no longer relevant, and sadly that's not the case.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comparative to" to clearly indicate a comparison between two or more distinct entities or concepts. Ensure that the items being compared are explicitly stated for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "comparative to" in sentences where the subject of comparison is vague or missing. Always ensure the sentence clearly states what is being compared to what to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comparative to" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase used to introduce a comparison. It modifies a noun or clause by specifying what it is being compared with, as confirmed by Ludwig and its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "comparative to" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to establish comparisons. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its examples show its frequent use in science, news, and business contexts. Although common, ensure the comparison is clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider using alternatives like "compared with" or "in comparison to" for variety. The most common error is a lack of clarity in what is being compared, so always provide a clear point of reference. While correct, it's important to note that other alternatives are more common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compared with

Focuses on direct comparison; often used interchangeably but slightly more concise.

in comparison to

Emphasizes the act of comparing one thing to another; slightly more formal.

relative to

Highlights the relationship or proportion between two things; often used in statistical or analytical contexts.

in relation to

Similar to "relative to" but can also imply a broader connection or association.

as opposed to

Highlights a contrast or difference between two things; introduces an element of opposition.

versus

A more direct and concise way to show opposition or comparison, common in sports or legal contexts.

in contrast with

Similar to "as opposed to" but emphasizes the difference more strongly.

juxtaposed with

Implies placing two things side by side to highlight their differences; more literary and descriptive.

alongside

Suggests a side-by-side comparison, often implying similarity or equivalence.

considering

Indicates taking something into account when making a comparison; suggests a degree of evaluation.

FAQs

How do I use "comparative to" in a sentence?

Use "comparative to" to show how one thing measures up against another. For example, "The cost of living here is high comparative to other cities."

What can I say instead of "comparative to"?

You can use alternatives like "compared with", "in comparison to", or "relative to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "comparative to" or "compared to"?

Both "comparative to" and "compared to" are grammatically acceptable, but "compared to" is more commonly used. "Comparative to" emphasizes the act of comparison.

What's the difference between "comparative to" and "relative to"?

"Comparative to" generally means 'when compared with', while "relative to" suggests a proportional or relational aspect in the comparison.