compared to so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compared to so" is not correct in written English.
It is unclear and lacks proper context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "The results of the experiment were impressive, compared to so many other studies in the field."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

We are nobody compared to so many people in this world doing important things.

The Guardian

"What makes him unusual compared to so many other directors is that he really knows what he's doing.

The New York Times

In addition the idea is fine and lofty compared to so much empty Ungarettian, Montalian, and Quasimodan absurdity.

The New Yorker

Compared to so many concerts, it is visually exciting, unstuffy and, if you are in the gallery or promming in the bull ring, you can even move around.

The Guardian - Music

Perhaps, but I appreciate the effort, especially compared to so many standard news leads which, as The Economist says about the coming upheaval in Japan, "is likely to be as enticing as last week's sushi".

The New York Times

"I could make jokes about the way I grew up, but the fact is that compared to so many people, I was lucky," said Ms. Jolie, who in the past has regaled reporters with her hard luck stories of having to comb thrift shops for clothes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Traditional, linear, ℓ2 penalties are compared to so-called sparsity promoting ℓ1 and ℓ0 penalties, and a total variation penalty.

Journal of Computational Physics

In this case, D A is approximately 26% lower than D S and D C. Although N Af is identical to N Sf, D A is still slightly lower than D S and D C. This implies that ASO-TDMA can provide SANETs with superior performance in terms of delays and CR performances compared to SO-TDMA and CS-TDMA.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The prevalence of chlamydia and trichomonas appear similar in community-based general population surveys compared to so-called high-risk groups such as STI clinic attendees or FSWs, calling into question the validity of simple risk categorisation in this setting.

Plosone

For confidence intervals, using a mid- p approach yielded coverage probabilities closer to the nominal level as compared to so-called 'exact' confidence intervals.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Compared to And So It Goes, it is a masterpiece.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "compared to so" with clearer and more precise comparative phrases like "compared to that extent" or "compared to such an instance" to ensure grammatical correctness and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "compared to so" without a clear reference point. This phrase often leaves the comparison incomplete and unclear. Always specify what you are comparing to by using a more precise alternative like "compared to that" or "compared to this situation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compared to so" functions as an incomplete comparative adverbial phrase. As Ludwig AI points out, it lacks a clear object for comparison, leading to ambiguity. This contrasts with standard comparative constructions that explicitly state what is being compared.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "compared to so" is grammatically incorrect and often unclear in written English. As noted by Ludwig AI, it lacks proper context, making it difficult to determine the intended meaning. While it appears infrequently in some news and science contexts, it's best to avoid this phrase and opt for clearer alternatives such as "compared to this" or "compared to that" to ensure your writing is precise and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compared to such

Replaces "so" with "such" to indicate a specific example within the comparison.

compared to that extent

Specifies the degree to which the comparison is being made.

when compared to that degree

Adds a temporal element and specifies the degree of comparison.

in comparison to such a level

Formalizes the comparison by specifying a level or standard.

relative to that point

Uses "relative to" to indicate a specific reference point for comparison.

by comparison to that

Highlights the act of comparing to a previously mentioned element.

in contrast with such

Emphasizes the differences between the compared items.

as opposed to that

Highlights a direct opposition in the comparison.

contrasting with those

Focuses on the contrasting elements when making a comparison.

versus such instances

Used to present a formal contrast between two or more items

FAQs

How can I use a comparative phrase correctly?

Ensure your comparative phrase clearly states what two things are being contrasted. For example, instead of saying "compared to so", specify "compared to this" or "compared to that".

What's wrong with saying "compared to so"?

The phrase "compared to so" is considered grammatically incorrect because it lacks a clear and specific object of comparison. It's vague and doesn't provide enough information for the reader to understand the contrast being made. Consider using "compared to this".

What can I say instead of "compared to so" to improve clarity?

To improve clarity, replace "compared to so" with alternatives that specify the point of comparison. Use phrases like "compared to that situation", "in comparison to this", or "relative to those factors".

Is "compared to so" ever correct in English?

While rarely used and generally discouraged, "compared to so" might appear in informal contexts or speech where the intended comparison is implied but not explicitly stated. However, for formal writing, it's best to avoid this phrase and opt for clearer alternatives, like "in comparison".