cursory comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cursory comparison" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a quick or superficial examination of two or more items or subjects. Example: "After a cursory comparison of the two reports, it was clear that one was more comprehensive than the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Even a cursory comparison between the guest list and the conference agenda raises red flags.

The Guardian

After only a cursory comparison, the Norwegian version does in fact seem to contain more content than the English one.

The Guardian - Books

An implicit answer to this question, however, comes from a cursory comparison of Mr. Kaufman with his cinematic alter ago.

The New York Times

Even a cursory comparison of the public utterances of Donald Rumsfeld with those of "Daniel Mendelsohn" suggests that the percentage is, if anything, higher in our case.

The New York Times

Still, even a cursory comparison of the Frist house and the presidential residence shows that the likeness is far from exact.

The New York Times

The results for each dataset have been adjusted for number of instances in order to enable a cursory comparison across various datasets.

EPJ Data Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Cursory comparisons can be made for other terms used in both documents.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

In such cursory comparisons, important key aspects of ELSA, such as anticipation and proximity (see above), are conveniently left out of the picture.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Cursory comparisons suggest that this model achieves accuracy comparable to or better than several commercial odds-makers, despite this model knowing nothing about teams, players, or strategies, and instead relying exclusively on the observed tempo and balance patterns in scoring events.

EPJ Data Science

The taxonomy has been primarily based on cursory morphological comparisons and the evolutionary affinities are little known.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The 2003 and 2014 AAMC surveys included a primary topic of "Cell theory," which appeared in several surveyed texts but only in introductory material and then in a cursory manner; I did not include this topic in my comparisons.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cursory comparison" when you want to indicate that an examination or analysis was done quickly and without much detail. It's useful for setting expectations about the depth of the analysis.

Common error

Don't use "cursory comparison" when describing a situation that demands a detailed and comprehensive analysis. This phrase indicates a lack of thoroughness, which can undermine the credibility of your findings if a more in-depth approach is expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cursory comparison" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "cursory" modifies the noun "comparison". It describes the type of comparison being made, indicating its superficial or hasty nature. Ludwig examples show its use in describing analysis in news, science, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Cursory comparison" is a phrase used to describe a quick and superficial examination of two or more things. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and relatively common, appearing in various contexts, including news, science, and general media. While the phrase is acceptable for indicating a brief assessment, it's crucial to remember its implications: the comparison lacks depth and thoroughness. Therefore, use it judiciously, ensuring that the context aligns with the level of analysis you're describing. If a more in-depth analysis is expected or required, alternative phrases like "thorough analysis" or "detailed examination" would be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quick comparison

Emphasizes speed and lack of detail in the comparison.

brief assessment

Focuses on the summary nature of the evaluation.

superficial analysis

Highlights the lack of depth in the examination.

rapid evaluation

Stresses the swiftness of the assessment process.

simple overview

Suggests a basic and uncomplicated review.

preliminary examination

Indicates the initial stage of a more thorough investigation.

passing glance

Implies an extremely brief and casual look.

surface-level check

Highlights that the examination does not go deep.

initial review

Indicates the starting point of a more detailed investigation.

casual observation

Suggests an informal and relaxed examination.

FAQs

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

You can use "cursory comparison" to describe a brief or superficial examination. For example: "After a "cursory comparison" of the two proposals, we decided to proceed with the one that offered more immediate benefits."

What are some alternatives to saying "cursory comparison"?

Alternatives include phrases like "quick comparison", "brief assessment", or "superficial analysis" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "cursory comparison"?

Use "cursory comparison" when you want to indicate that an examination or analysis was not exhaustive or detailed, but rather a quick overview.

What does "cursory" mean in the context of "cursory comparison"?

In this context, "cursory" means hasty, superficial, or not thorough. A "cursory comparison" is therefore a quick and not very detailed examination.