comparison against

USAGE SUMMARY

"comparison against" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to measure one thing against something else, or to compare one thing to another. For example, "We conducted a comparison against last month's sales figures to determine our progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Comparison against these experimental data is good.

Computers & Fluids

Finally, a comparison against experimental results shows a good agreement.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

"The prize money levels we are offering really do stand comparison against any races," Waterworth said.

The Guardian - Sport

Reinartz, I. et al. Simulation of FRET dyes allows quantitative comparison against experimental data.

Nature

The numerical data have been assessed by comparison against experimental observations.

Chemical Engineering Science

Figure 18 Performance comparison against JPEG compression.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Figure 11 Performance comparison against jitter attacks.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Figure 13 shows comparison against other techniques.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Figure 12 Performance comparison against a band cropping attack.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Figure 15 Performance comparison against downsampling followed by upsampling.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Figure 20 Performance comparison against Gaussian noise addition.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "comparison against", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being compared and the basis for the comparison. Specify metrics or criteria to make the comparison more meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "comparison against" when a simple "with" suffices. Overusing "against" can imply an adversarial relationship where none exists. Choose "comparison with" if you want to avoid implying competition between the subjects being compared.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comparison against" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. It's used to denote a method of evaluating something by contrasting it with another entity, standard, or baseline. Ludwig AI states that it serves "to measure one thing against something else, or to compare one thing to another."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "comparison against" is a prepositional phrase used to evaluate or contrast one thing with another, often to highlight differences or assess performance relative to a standard. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase helps "to measure one thing against something else, or to compare one thing to another." It is grammatically correct and frequently appears in scientific, news, and formal contexts. While it is widely used, being mindful of alternative phrases like "comparison with" or "in comparison to" can enhance the clarity and precision of your writing. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize a contrast or evaluation, and ensure the context provides a clear basis for the comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comparison with

Replaces "against" with "with", changing the nuance to emphasize similarity rather than opposition. Has a score of 95

in comparison to

Adds a formal tone, emphasizing a structured comparison. Has a score of 90

compared to

A shortened version of "in comparison to", maintaining a formal but concise tone. Has a score of 88

relative to

Focuses on the proportional relationship between two things. Has a score of 85

versus

Suggests a direct opposition or competition. Has a score of 82

in contrast to

Highlights differences rather than similarities. Has a score of 80

juxtaposed with

Emphasizes the act of placing two things side by side for comparison. Has a score of 78

weighing against

Indicates assessing the relative importance or influence of something. Has a score of 75

assessing against

Emphasizes evaluation based on a specific standard or criteria. Has a score of 72

evaluating with respect to

Provides a more technical or academic approach to comparison. Has a score of 70

FAQs

How can I use "comparison against" in a sentence?

You can use "comparison against" to highlight differences or evaluate something relative to a standard. For instance, "The study involved a "comparison against" existing methods".

What is a good alternative to "comparison against"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "comparison with", "in comparison to", or "compared to". Each subtly shifts the emphasis of the comparison.

When is it appropriate to use "comparison against" instead of "comparison with"?

Use "comparison against" when you want to emphasize a contrast or evaluation relative to a standard. Use "comparison with" when the goal is to highlight similarities or general relationships.

Is "comparison against" formal or informal?

"Comparison against" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, though it is often seen in scientific and technical contexts.