consider against

USAGE SUMMARY

"consider against" is not a correct phrase in written English.
To express the idea of "weighing one thing against another," you would use the phrase "weigh the pros and cons" or "consider the pros and cons." For example, "I'm trying to decide whether to take the job, so I'm weighing the pros and cons of staying in my current position."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I can list four or five that have managed to consolidate in a way that I consider against the spirit of the antitrust laws.

Columbia University

"Inside the wire at these compounds are Islamic extremists who will maim or kill fellow detainees for behavior they consider against Islam," the military report said.

The Washington Post

This is what this paper will consider, against the methodological backdrop of interactional discourse and conversation analysis, with a case study of a TV discussion in French initiated as a panel discussion, but lapsing out of the format.

Journal of Pragmatics

Last year, when asked in an interview what military action he would consider against Iran, Mr. Romney said, "There's a lot more information I need to have to know what type of military strike would be appropriate and effective".

The New York Times

Lansley said: "The commission recognise that implementing their reforms would have significant costs which the government will need to consider against other funding priorities and calls on constrained resources.

The Guardian

First, though, there are two league games to consider, against Bradford and then St Helens, and the Giants are hoping to at least maintain their third place position ahead of the restructured play-offs.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Would that be considered against the law?

The New York Times

"It's considered against the rules but not against the ethos of the game," he said.

The New Yorker

Such a step is being considered against Microsoft, which is still under antitrust scrutiny here.

The New York Times

Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, recommended that disciplinary action be considered against Mr. Felton.

The New York Times

The possible "first" President Obama described must be considered against that recent history.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the unidiomatic phrase "consider against", opt for more standard alternatives such as "weigh against", "compare with", or "evaluate in relation to" for clearer and more grammatically sound writing.

Common error

Avoid directly pairing "consider" with "against". This combination often results in awkward phrasing. Instead, restructure your sentence to use a more appropriate preposition or verb that accurately conveys your intended meaning, such as "compare" or "weigh".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consider against" is a prepositional phrase intended to express comparison or opposition. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is not a standard or grammatically correct construction in English. This means it's best avoided in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "consider against" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI points out that it's not considered standard English. Its intended meaning revolves around comparison and evaluation, but its ungrammatical nature makes it unsuitable for formal contexts. For clearer and more effective communication, alternatives like "weigh against", "compare with", or "evaluate in relation to" are recommended. These alternatives enhance clarity and maintain grammatical correctness, reinforcing your writing's credibility and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weigh against

Replaces "consider" with "weigh," emphasizing the act of balancing opposing factors.

balance against

Similar to "weigh against," this emphasizes the balancing of competing factors.

evaluate against

Substitutes "consider" with "evaluate," highlighting a more formal assessment process.

assess in relation to

Offers a more descriptive alternative, focusing on the comparative assessment.

judge in comparison to

Emphasizes the act of judging based on a comparison with something else.

compare with

Focuses on the act of comparing, omitting the element of opposition.

contrast with

Highlights the differences between items, rather than a general consideration.

measure up against

Implies assessing something against a specific standard or benchmark.

pit against

Suggests a direct competition or opposition between two things.

take into account

Focuses on considering something as part of a broader assessment, without necessarily implying opposition.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "consider against"?

Since "consider against" isn't standard English, try using alternatives like "weigh against", "compare with", or "evaluate in relation to". The best choice depends on the specific context and intended meaning.

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

You can use "weigh against" to show that you are balancing two options. For example, "We need to weigh the benefits of the new policy against its potential costs."

Is it grammatically correct to say "consider against"?

No, the phrase "consider against" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "compare with" or "weigh against" instead.

What's the difference between "compare with" and "weigh against"?

"Compare with" generally means to examine the similarities and differences between two things. "Weigh against" implies assessing the relative importance or impact of one thing in opposition to another, often in a decision-making context.