compared to absence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compared to absence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the difference or contrast between a presence or existence of something and its absence. Example: "The benefits of having a mentor are significant, especially when compared to absence of guidance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Obesity was associated with younger age, lower PSA and alkaline phosphatase levels, and higher performance status, primary Gleason sum, testosterone and hemoglobin compared to absence of obesity.

Duke University

Among currently depressed patients, presence compared to absence of current irritability was significantly more common (68.6 vs. 31.4 % had and lacked current irritability, respectively, binomial test p < 0.0001).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Presence compared to absence of depression and anxiety increased the prevalence of poor or very poor quality of life from 0.7%to13.1%.1 % in EH and from 3.6 % to 40.3 % in CH (p = 0.001; p < 0.0001).

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Saha and Cotta (2007) has reported that peroxide pretreatment under alkaline conditions (addition of NaOH) increased the production of reducing sugars with more than 96% cellulosic conversion as compared to absence of alkali.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

The presence compared to absence of cryptococcosis-related lesions was significantly associated with high serum (78% vs. 42%, p = 0.008) and CSF (81% vs. 50%, p = 0.024) antigen titers, independently of neurological abnormalities.

Plosone

We hypothesized that increased albumin synthesis in hepatocyte cultures as compared to collagen double gel cultures may be due to increased levels of laminin, fibronectin and Collagen IV in Adipogel as compared to absence of these factors in double-gel sandwich configurations.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

6 9 14 15 In addition, compared to absences related to physical disorders, those related to mental disorders may be of greater length and in turn, burden.

BMJ Open

The xylanase activity in culture supernatants of each clone was measured in the presence and absence of xylose, and the activity ratio in the presence (+ xylose) as compared to the absence (−xylose) was calculated.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

But nothing compared to the absence of his father, Dennis Letts, who had been playing the patriarch of "August" until he died in February.

The New York Times

However, both the K262A and K268A mutants demonstrated elevated activity under conditions of atmospheric CO2 compared to the absence of CO2.

Nature

However, neural network formation was accelerated by both bECM and MaxGel as evidenced by synchronized neural activity and development of communities at earlier time points, compared to the absence of ECM coating.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "compared to absence", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being compared and why the absence is a relevant point of reference. This phrase is most effective in analytical or scientific writing where precise comparisons are essential.

Common error

Avoid using "compared to absence" when a simpler contrast would suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. Choose direct and concise language whenever possible for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compared to absence" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a comparison. It establishes a baseline or control condition where something is not present, allowing for a clear evaluation of the impact or effect when that thing is present. Ludwig AI confirms this is a usable and correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

Academia

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "compared to absence" is a prepositional phrase primarily used to establish a comparison between a situation where something exists and one where it does not. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is both grammatically correct and usable. It is commonly found in formal and scientific writing, where precision is essential, and is often used to emphasize the impact or effect of a particular factor. While effective, writers should be mindful of simpler, more direct alternatives when appropriate to avoid unnecessary complexity. Common alternatives include "versus absence", "in contrast to absence", and "relative to absence".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

versus absence

Replaces "compared to" with "versus", offering a more direct contrast.

in contrast to absence

Emphasizes the difference more strongly by using "in contrast to".

relative to absence

Focuses on proportionality in relation to the absence condition.

as opposed to absence

Highlights a clear distinction between presence and absence.

in comparison with absence

More formal alternative to "compared to", with the same core meaning.

when absence is not a factor

Changes the phrasing to focus on situations where absence is not considered.

considering the absence

Implies that the absence is being taken into account during the comparison.

taking into account the lack of

Emphasizes that the "lack of" is carefully measured in the comparison.

assessing against a backdrop of nonexistence

A more descriptive and metaphorical way of expressing the comparison.

evaluating in light of no presence

Formal and somewhat verbose alternative, suitable for academic or technical writing.

FAQs

How can I use "compared to absence" in a sentence?

Use "compared to absence" to highlight the effect or outcome of something being present versus not being present. For example, "The patient's recovery rate was significantly faster with the new medication compared to absence of treatment."

What are some alternatives to "compared to absence"?

You can use alternatives like "versus absence", "in contrast to absence", or "relative to absence" depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to specify "compared to absence" or can a simpler comparison be used?

While "compared to absence" is grammatically correct, it's not always needed. Often, a direct comparison is more effective and concise. For example, instead of "the results were better compared to absence of intervention", you could say "the results were better without intervention".

When is "compared to absence" most appropriate?

"Compared to absence" is most appropriate in scientific or analytical writing where a specific condition is being rigorously evaluated against a state where it does not exist. It highlights the unique impact of the condition's presence.