comparing against

USAGE SUMMARY

"comparing against" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to compare two items, whether they are people, ideas, objects, etc. For example, "We compared the sales of this year against last year to track our growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both are worth comparing against the Samsung N210 if you can find a local stockist, such as PC World or John Lewis.

The Guardian - Tech

The women recall doing a lot of measuring and comparing against friends, schoolmates and siblings as they tried to figure out where they fit in, or why they did not.

The New York Times

Some analysts were disappointed by the performance of its travel chain as it was comparing against a period last year when trade was disrupted by the Icelandic ash cloud.

The Guardian - Business

They often included brief job descriptions, internship stories from students, in addition to information on the required skill sets needed for the area – useful for comparing against where my own strengths lie.

The Guardian

Such raw intelligence reports by the CIA on the ground would normally be sent first to analysts at the headquarters in Langley, Virginia, for vetting and comparing against other intelligence derived from eavesdropping drones and satellite images.

The Guardian

And sure, comparing against CDs, it's not a good model.

TechCrunch

We verify our simulation results by comparing against analytic results obtained from an approximate analytic model.

Computer Networks

The positive effect is most evident when comparing against the CPU; it is less evident when comparing against the GPU as the GPU throughput is relatively poor for benchmarks with 1000 objects or fewer.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

The students also had the additional task of verifying the correctness of their models by comparing against expert simulation behaviors.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

We validate this model by comparing against published dynamic micro-CT imaging experiments for dissolution of a Ketton carbonate.

Chemical Engineering Science

The simulation results are validated by comparing against experimental data measured for the flames of pre-vaporized fuels.

Combustion and Flame

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comparing against" when you want to explicitly state what you are using as a benchmark for comparison.

Common error

Be mindful of using the correct preposition. While "comparing against" is valid, consider whether "compared to" or "compared with" might be more appropriate depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comparing against" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically introduces a standard or benchmark used for evaluation. Ludwig AI shows it's often used to highlight a relationship or difference between two items, ideas, or data sets.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "comparing against" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides numerous examples across various domains, especially in science and news. It functions to establish a point of reference for assessing and evaluating different items. When you are writing, remember to select the most appropriate preposition and context for clarity and precision. Consider using synonyms like "compared to" or "versus" for variety. This guide has addressed common usage patterns, potential errors, and provided alternative phrases to enhance your writing skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compared to

A common alternative, emphasizing a direct comparison.

by comparison with

A more formal way of saying "compared to".

in contrast with

Highlights the differences between two things being compared.

measured against

Suggests a quantitative or objective comparison.

as opposed to

Emphasizes the opposition between two choices or options.

versus

A more concise way to express comparison, often used in formal contexts.

assessed against

Focuses on evaluating something based on a standard.

evaluated against

Similar to "assessed against", but with a broader scope.

when weighed against

Implies a more careful or thoughtful comparison.

juxtaposed with

Places two things side-by-side to highlight similarities and differences.

FAQs

How do I use "comparing against" in a sentence?

Use "comparing against" to show a direct comparison between two or more things. For example, "We are "comparing against" last year's sales figures to evaluate this year's performance."

What is a good alternative to "comparing against"?

Alternatives to "comparing against" include "compared to", "versus", or "in contrast with". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context of your comparison.

Is it better to use "comparing against" or "compared to"?

Both "comparing against" and "compared to" are grammatically correct. "Comparing against" explicitly indicates a benchmark, while "compared to" is a more general comparison.

What's the difference between "comparing against" and "assessing against"?

"Comparing against" highlights the similarities and differences between two items, while "assessing against" implies evaluating something based on a specific standard or set of criteria.