compared

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "compared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of comparing two or more items. For example, "A comparison was made between the two products, and it was found that the first one was superior when compared to the second one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As a result, the country lost a further 21 positions in the policy evaluation compared to last year, thus replacing Canada as the worst-performing industrial country".

The Guardian

But even that is simple compared with piecing together the accounts of the world's largest home-furnishing retailer.

The Economist

The world economy was in a tailspin and facing disaster to match the 1930s, but Brown had a plan which he had compared to the Bretton Woods agreement that shaped the world's postwar economic infrastructure.

The Guardian

While bombs did some damage, they did nothing compared with a disastrous postwar planner, Rowland Nicholas, who sought to demolish much of the city – even the town hall – to rebuild a socialist utopia.

The Guardian

Flights extra While the situation in East Timor is relatively calm compared with recent periods of political strife, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office still advises against "all but essential travel" to the region.

The Guardian - Travel

Even with all the misgivings, 43% of respondents said they were more likely to "like" David Cameron than Ed Miliband (just 34 % and 36% thought him more capable compared with the Labour leader.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

flutterby asks about his thoughts on Englishness: As a (sometime) immigrant, how did you find life here compared to the States?

The Guardian

People who worked 49-54 hours a week ran a 13% higher risk of developing a "risky alcohol use" habit compared to counterparts who worked a 35-40-hour 35-40-hour 35-40-hour work week

The Guardian

The BBC's 108 highest-paid bosses – including those on salaries of £150,000 or more – reduced the total amount of expenses they claimed in the first three quarters of this financial year by 14.1% compared with the equivalent period in 2009/10.

The Guardian

Labor introduced a controversial "no advantage test" on 13 August last year in an unsuccessful attempt to stop asylum boats from coming by insisting that those applying for refugee status in that way received no benefit compared with those who stayed in refugee camps in the region.

The Guardian

Little Palm Grove, a sister resort 50 metres away, is a more private affair compared with Palm Grove's family-friendly environment but both have beautifully furnished cottages, reflecting the gorgeousness outside.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose "compared to" when highlighting similarities and "compared with" when highlighting differences.

Common error

Avoid using "compared to" and "compared with" interchangeably. "Compared to" asserts similarity without formal analysis, while "compared with" suggests a more detailed examination of differences.

Linguistic Context

The word "compared" functions primarily as a past participle or passive verb. It is used to establish a relationship between two or more entities, highlighting their similarities or differences. Ludwig AI confirms that it is used to connect pieces of information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Travel

15%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "compared" is a versatile term primarily functioning as a past participle or passive verb to establish relationships between two or more entities. Ludwig AI confirms its role in connecting information. As shown by Ludwig, it is commonly used in News & Media, travel, and sport contexts. Understanding nuances of "compared to" versus "compared with" prevents grammatical errors. For alternatives, consider phrases such as "in contrast to" or "relative to" to add stylistic diversity to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compared and contrasted with

Explicitly mentions both similarities and differences.

by comparison with

Highlights the act of comparing and drawing conclusions.

measured against

Implies a standard or benchmark used for evaluation.

in contrast to

Emphasizes a direct opposition or difference between two things.

as opposed to

Indicates a clear preference or choice between two options.

relative to

Focuses on the proportional relationship or degree of something.

in relation to

Focuses on how something connects or corresponds to something else.

set against

Highlights the background or context against which something is being compared.

when juxtaposed with

Suggests placing two things side by side for a clearer comparison.

vis-à-vis

A more formal way of saying "in relation to" or "compared with".

FAQs

How do you properly use "compared" in a sentence?

The word "compared" is used to show similarities or differences between two or more things. For example, "The performance of this year's sales team was significantly better "compared to" last year's team".

What's the difference between "compared to" and "compared with"?

"Compared to" is often used to point out similarities between different things, while "compared with" is used to analyze differences between similar things. For instance, "Life is short "compared to" eternity" versus "This model "compared with" the previous version, has several improvements".

What can I say instead of "compared"?

Depending on the context, you can use words or phrases like "in contrast to", "relative to", or "by comparison with".

Is it grammatically correct to use "compared" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "compared" at the beginning of a sentence, especially when setting up a comparison as a clause. For example, "Compared with other protests in recent years, the republican demonstrations were lacklustre."