dirty comparisons

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dirty comparisons" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to unfair or unethical comparisons between people, situations, or things. For example, "The article was filled with dirty comparisons that undermined the integrity of the debate." Alternative expressions include "unfair comparisons" and "biased comparisons."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here's a quick and dirty comparison based on Compete traffic estimates for TokBox, which developed a similar application with $14 million in VC funding behind them, and Tinychat.com.

TechCrunch

If you want a quick and dirty comparison, look at the recent Dot-Com Bubble.

Huffington Post

Of course, any quick and dirty comparison between Phillips' estimate and New York's 2013 results is hardly water tight, and there may be viable alternatives to international benchmarking.

HuffPost

Also, all of these deserve a full review, so I refrained from making quick-and-dirty comparisons between all of them.

TechCrunch

In the photo above, which are the two other mixtures that look "dirtiest" in comparison to what they are trying to be?

WikiHow

Comparison of existing dirty page aware VM migration approaches is presented in Table 12.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Although the damage caused by a dirty bomb would pale in comparison to that caused by a true nuke, experts fear that such bombs could still cause panic and possible injury or death by spreading radioactive material over potentially large areas.

Science Magazine

Nonetheless, a comparison between the dirty bomb and SARS Haddon matrix examples shows marked similarities in the importance of risk communication, mental health support, resource use, surge capacity, and effective surveillance as points of public health impact, consistent with an all-hazards readiness and response framework.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Is it like comparing 2+2=4 on dirty paper with 2+2=4 on clean paper?' One student suggested a comparison with a 'bell dying away so that one doesn't know if one imagines or hears it'.

The Guardian - Books

The point of the comparison is that great dirty art like Schiele's needs to be fiercely precise to make the carnal grab us.

The Guardian - Arts

Weiner's dirty pictures, small beer though they are in comparison, may suggest a problem with impulse control, which, compounded by an instinct to stonewall and to blame others, might have struck voters as relevant.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dirty comparisons", ensure you provide specific details about what makes the comparison unfair or unethical to strengthen your argument and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling comparisons as "dirty" without specifying the nature of the unfairness or manipulation involved. Providing concrete examples of the bias or distortion will make your critique more persuasive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dirty comparisons" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to comparisons perceived as unfair, biased, or unethical. Even if Ludwig returns few examples, context helps to infer usage.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dirty comparisons" denotes comparisons that are considered unfair, biased, or unethical. Although Ludwig shows limited examples, it's a grammatically correct phrase used to critique manipulative or misleading comparisons. Alternatives include "unfair comparisons" and "biased comparisons". When employing the phrase, providing specific context on the unfairness strengthens its impact. The scarcity of examples suggests the phrase is not very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfair comparisons

Focuses on the lack of justice or equity in the comparison.

biased comparisons

Highlights the prejudice or partiality affecting the comparison.

unethical comparisons

Emphasizes the moral wrongness of the comparison.

misleading comparisons

Indicates that the comparison is deceptive or gives a false impression.

distorted comparisons

Suggests that the comparison is twisted or misrepresented.

manipulative comparisons

Highlights the intent to influence or control through the comparison.

loaded comparisons

Indicates that the comparison is designed to favor one side.

slanted comparisons

Emphasizes the lack of objectivity in the comparison.

dishonest comparisons

Directly accuses the comparison of being untruthful.

skewed comparisons

Suggests that the comparison is presented in a way that is not accurate or fair.

FAQs

What does "dirty comparisons" mean?

The term "dirty comparisons" refers to comparisons that are unfair, unethical, or manipulated to present a biased view. They often involve distorting facts or omitting relevant information.

How can I identify "dirty comparisons"?

Look for comparisons that seem to favor one side without justification, omit crucial details, or misrepresent information. Question whether the comparison presents a complete and objective picture.

What can I say instead of "dirty comparisons"?

You can use alternatives like "unfair comparisons", "biased comparisons", or "misleading comparisons" depending on the specific context.

Are "dirty comparisons" always intentional?

Not necessarily. While some "dirty comparisons" are deliberately manipulative, others may arise from unintentional biases or incomplete understanding of the information being compared.