drawing a parallel

USAGE SUMMARY

"drawing a parallel" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to draw comparisons between two people, concepts, or ideas. For example: "The professor was drawing a parallel between the two characters in the novel in order to illustrate a moral lesson."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Kennedy in '60," Mr. McCain said on Sunday, drawing a parallel to his own campaign.

The New York Times

He continued by drawing a parallel between how women react to injustice, compared to men.

The Guardian - Film

We want to help them act out being a hero without drawing a parallel to current events".

The New York Times

In drawing a parallel with her music and that of the film-maker David Lynch, they got it.

The Guardian - Music

"It's the prêt of jewelry," said the Indian luxury expert Gaurav Bhatia, drawing a parallel with prêt-a-porter fashion.

The New York Times

Much of the criticism was directed at Boulez personally, one critic accusing him of being "the new Lully", drawing a parallel with the court of Louis XIV.

The Guardian - Music

Perhaps inevitably, Richardson concludes her book by drawing a parallel between Theodore Roosevelt charging up San Juan Hill and Bush sending the cavalry into Iraq.

The New York Times - Books

Kerrey again disagreed, drawing a parallel between Edward Snowden and Klaus Fuchs, who handed secrets on the atomic bomb to the Soviets, Kerrey contended, also out of conscience.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is what filmmakers thought the audience could handle," Mr. Konkle said, drawing a parallel to the early days of online video.

The New York Times

Drawing a parallel to the mortgage crisis, Tom Rothman, co-chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment, jokes that overheated film funding in general has created "a subprime movie market".

The New York Times

To begin with, it's worth noting that Smith, not Buckley, is the one who lights the fuse by drawing a parallel between the Nazis and the Vietcong.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "drawing a parallel", clearly state both subjects of the comparison to avoid ambiguity and ensure the reader understands the intended connection.

Common error

Avoid "drawing a parallel" that is too simplistic or far-fetched. Ensure that the comparison is logical and adds value to the discussion, rather than misleading or confusing the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drawing a parallel" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to introduce a comparison between two distinct subjects. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and acceptable way to indicate similarities. For example, ""drawing a parallel" between the political struggles".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drawing a parallel" is a versatile verb phrase used to make comparisons between distinct subjects, often to offer new insights. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse fields. Predominantly found in News & Media, it also appears in scientific and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is clear and logical to effectively communicate the intended connection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drawing a comparison

Slightly alters the word order while maintaining the core meaning.

making a comparison

Replaces the "drawing" verb with "making", focusing on the action of comparing.

making an analogy

Uses a more specific term for comparison, implying a more elaborate relationship.

pointing out a similarity

Highlights the act of directing attention to a common aspect.

establishing a connection

Focuses on creating a link rather than a direct comparison.

making a correlation

Suggests a statistical or causal link between the compared items.

finding similarities

Highlights the act of discovering common aspects.

equating the two

Focuses on establishing equality or equivalence.

likening one to another

Emphasizes the act of equating two things.

seeing a resemblance

Focuses on perceiving similar qualities or features.

FAQs

How can I use "drawing a parallel" in a sentence?

You can use "drawing a parallel" to compare two different things to highlight similarities between them. For example, "She was "drawing a parallel" between the current economic crisis and the Great Depression."

What phrases are similar to "drawing a parallel"?

Similar phrases include "making a comparison", "drawing a comparison", or "establishing a connection". These phrases all suggest finding similarities between two or more things.

Is "drawing a parallel" formal or informal?

"Drawing a parallel" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "drawing a parallel" and "drawing a distinction"?

"Drawing a parallel" highlights similarities between two subjects, while "drawing a distinction" emphasizes the differences. They are essentially opposite in meaning.