comparisons to when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comparisons to when" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to introduce a comparison related to a specific time or event, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "The comparisons to when we first started the project highlight how much we've grown since then."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I happen to be a villain in this massive soap opera script," Limbaugh said, drawing comparisons to when he called Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke a "slut".

Huffington Post

Bush's remarks immediately drew comparisons to when Romney, explaining an earlier speech that he gave to the NAACP where he was booed, said, "I hope people understand this, your friends who like Obamacare, you remind them of this, if they want more stuff from government tell them to go vote for the other guy — more free stuff".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It felt very strange in comparison to when I played other guys, because Tim was someone that I looked up to when I was growing up," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Gladstone is 10percentt bigger than he would be normally, because when you go outside in the open statues sink in comparison to when they are in rooms.

The Guardian

The Pacers came down hard on George almost immediately, leading to a swift apology from George, but this will be nothing in comparison to when the next NBA player is charged with an actual violent crime.

The Guardian - Sport

He makes a comparison to when the first pop-up advertisements appeared on the Web.

Forbes

When fed the soft-textured pellets, a greater proportion of feed particles in the stomach was found in comparison to when the control diet was fed (P<0.001).

Aquaculture

We also observe that the combined use of these two strategies does not result in increased pro-environmental behavior in comparison to when they are used separately.

Journal of Environmental Psychology

In comparison to when she was in the US, Ying feels she has more funding options and more flexibility about research directions in Singapore.

Science Magazine

When roughness-induced closure is the prime pre-overload closure mechanism, the retardation effect is decreased in comparison to when plasticity-induced closure is dominant.

International Journal of Fatigue

The finding also best applied when readers/visitors were not given a value scenario (in comparison to when they were asked to think about the document having personal or historic value).

Heritage Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "comparisons to when" with alternatives like "in comparison to when" or "compared to the time when".

Common error

Don't use the phrase "comparisons to when" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more grammatically sound options like "in comparison to when" or rephrase to improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comparisons to when" functions as a prepositional phrase intending to introduce a comparison related to a specific point in time. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrasing is not grammatically correct and lacks clarity in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "comparisons to when" is grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity in standard written English, as noted by Ludwig AI. While it may appear in various contexts, especially in news and media, it is advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives like "in comparison to when" or "compared to the time when". These alternatives enhance clarity and ensure grammatical correctness, making your writing more effective and professional. As such, avoid this phrase in formal or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in comparison with when

Replaces "to" with "with" for better grammatical flow, maintaining the comparative aspect.

compared to the time when

Adds clarity by explicitly stating "the time", emphasizing the specific period being compared.

in relation to when

Uses "in relation to" to indicate a connection or comparison to a specific point in time.

by comparison with the time that

Offers a more formal and explicit way to state the comparison regarding a particular time.

when compared with

Changes the structure to start with "when compared", focusing on the act of comparison.

relative to the period when

Employs "relative to" to show a relationship or proportion to a certain period.

as opposed to when

Uses "as opposed to" to highlight a contrast between two different times or situations.

by way of comparison to when

Introduces a comparison using "by way of comparison", making the comparison more explicit.

drawing a comparison to when

Focuses on the act of "drawing a comparison", emphasizing the intentional nature of the comparison.

in contrast to the period when

Highlights a difference or opposition using "in contrast to", emphasizing the distinction between the times.

FAQs

What's a grammatically sound alternative to "comparisons to when"?

You can use phrases like "in comparison to when" or "compared to the time when" for improved clarity and correctness.

Is "comparisons to when" considered grammatically correct in English?

No, "comparisons to when" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "in comparison to when".

How can I use "in comparison to when" in a sentence?

For example, "The results were significantly better in comparison to when we started the experiment".

Why is "comparisons to when" considered an awkward phrasing?

The phrase is awkward due to the redundancy of "to when". Better phrasing options include "in comparison to when" or restructuring the sentence for clarity.