compare among

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'compare among' is not correct and is not usable in written English.
Instead, you would use the phrase 'compare among/between'. For example, "We will compare among the different options to find the best solution."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How do the numbers compare among the different schools?

The New York Times

But trying to compare among them is silly.

The New York Times

Mets fans took the day to compare among themselves their own stories of suffering and resilience.

The New York Times - Sports

Let us compare among two homotopies in terms of the pictures in Figure 3.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

More research is needed to compare, among people who use substances, interactions between substance use, SMI, and substance-related consequences.

Health & Justice

AE incidence rates are difficult to compare among studies, in part because of different AE reporting strategies.

Annals of Intensive Care

This is applied to compare among similar compounds (as is the case on N-compounds) in the same conditions.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

However, the results are difficult to compare among each other because the loading schemes are generally different.

Bone

In this application, in order to be able to compare among countries, ratios of fatalities per vehicles and vehicles per population have been used instead of absolute numbers.

European Transport Research Review

The mudline overturning moment, as well as the blade-root in-plane and out-of-plane moments are taken as metrics to compare among the load cases.

Renewable Energy

The aim of this paper is to test the performance of these recent models and to compare among them using simulated data from a Monte Carlo experimental design.

Computers & Operations Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing multiple items, use "compare between" or "compare among" ensuring that it aligns with standard grammatical conventions. If the items are distinctly separate, use 'between'.

Common error

Avoid using "compare among" when "compare between" is grammatically appropriate. Remember that "between" is typically used for two items, while "among" is used for three or more. However, it's generally safer to use 'between' always.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compare among" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a comparative relationship among multiple entities. While Ludwig provides numerous examples, it's crucial to note, as Ludwig AI points out, that the construction is often considered grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "compare among" is frequently used, particularly in scientific and news contexts, yet it's often deemed grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI states, it's generally safer to use "compare between" instead, even when comparing more than two items. Although the phrase is quite common, the grammatical issue might be taken into account. As seen in the data from Ludwig, authoritative sources such as PlosOne and The New York Times use this phrase. As a best practice, always consider your audience and the level of formality required, to make an informed decision about which phrasing you wish to use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compare between

This alternative is the grammatically correct version of the phrase.

contrast among

This alternative emphasizes the differences rather than similarities.

differentiate between

This alternative focuses on highlighting the unique aspects of each item.

distinguish among

This alternative suggests a clearer separation or identification of individual items.

compare across

This alternative broadens the scope of comparison to include a wider range or variety.

make a comparison between

This alternative uses a more verbose and formal structure.

draw comparisons among

This alternative suggests a more thoughtful and analytical comparison.

weigh against each other

This alternative implies a balancing or evaluation of relative importance.

juxtapose

This alternative means placing items side by side to highlight their differences.

collate

This alternative suggests gathering and comparing information from different sources.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "compare among" in a sentence?

While commonly used, "compare among" is often flagged as grammatically incorrect. A safer and widely accepted alternative is to use "compare between".

What's the difference between "compare among" and "compare between"?

"Compare between" is generally considered grammatically correct and is used for comparing two items. "Compare among" is used for three or more, but it's frequently disputed. It's often better to just use "compare between".

When is it appropriate to use "compare among"?

Although frequently used in various contexts, including scientific papers, the phrase "compare among" is often considered grammatically incorrect. It's best to use it with caution and consider using "compare between" instead.

What are some alternatives to "compare among" that are grammatically sound?

You can use alternatives like "contrast among", "differentiate between", or simply use "compare between" for better grammatical accuracy.