gram for gram

USAGE SUMMARY

"gram for gram" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a way of comparing the relative weights of two different substances. For example, "Gram for gram, gold is more valuable than silver."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Apparently those threads are, gram for gram, five times stronger than steel.

The Guardian

No tobacco is safe and gram for gram it is as harmful as ordinary cigarettes.

The Guardian

Gram for gram, kale contains 17 times more Vitamin C than carrots.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Gram for gram, they had the same size hearts," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Dr. Roth said Salvinorin A was the strongest hallucinogen gram for gram found in nature.

The New York Times

Gram for gram, fat has more than double the calories of carbohydrate or protein".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Just four locusts provide as much calcium as a glass of milk, while mopani worms, gram-for-gram, contain more protein than beef.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Although gram-for-gram these two frogs' venoms are more toxic than pit viper venoms, snakes have a much more effective venom delivery system -- long hollow fangs.

The Guardian

When Hall-Spencer and his colleagues measured the energy use of some of the snails that they gathered off of Sicily, they found, not surprisingly, that the smaller ones used less (although, on a gram-for-gram basis, their metabolic needs were higher).

The New Yorker

In fact, gram-for-gram, dark chocolate has been shown to contain significantly greater antioxidant capacity than blueberries!

Huffington Post

Because protein which has gram-for-gram almost exactly the same number of calories as carbohydrates takes longer to digest than carbohydrates and so doesn't cause the spike in blood sugar that might leave you ravenous a few hours later.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gram for gram", ensure you are comparing comparable attributes. For instance, compare the protein content of different foods or the strength of different materials using the same unit of measurement.

Common error

Avoid using "gram for gram" when the comparison isn't directly proportional or when other factors significantly influence the outcome. For instance, comparing the 'effectiveness' of two drugs solely on a "gram for gram" basis might be misleading if their bioavailability or mechanism of action differ substantially.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gram for gram" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate a comparison based on equal weights. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

29%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gram for gram" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for making weight-based comparisons. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely employed in diverse contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic writing. While "by weight" serves as a close alternative, "gram for gram" explicitly specifies the unit of measurement, making it useful for clarity. When employing this phrase, ensure that the comparison is relevant and proportional to the attribute being examined.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weight for weight

Mirrors the structure of the original phrase, but with a different word order.

on a per-gram basis

Indicates the comparison is done considering each gram of the substance.

for each gram

Focuses on the individual gram as the unit of comparison.

by weight

Focuses on the comparison purely in terms of weight, omitting the specific unit.

by mass

Uses "mass" instead of "weight", which can be more scientifically accurate.

on a weight basis

Indicates that the comparison is made considering only the weight aspect.

per unit weight

Highlights the ratio concerning a standardized weight unit.

in terms of weight

General way of framing a comparison based on mass.

in proportion to weight

Emphasizes the proportionality relative to the weight of the substances.

normalized by gram

Suggests a mathematical normalization process using the gram as a base unit.

FAQs

How do I use "gram for gram" in a sentence?

Use "gram for gram" to compare equivalent weights of different substances, highlighting a specific attribute. For example, "Gram for gram, this new alloy is stronger than steel".

What is a synonym for "gram for gram"?

Synonyms include "by weight", "weight for weight", or "per unit weight". All these alternatives are expressing a proportion by weight.

When is it appropriate to use "gram for gram" in writing?

It’s appropriate when you want to directly compare the amount of a certain property found in equal weights of two or more different substances. Make sure that the attribute is comparable.

What’s the difference between "gram for gram" and "by weight"?

"Gram for gram" is more specific, indicating the unit of measurement being used, while "by weight" is a more general term indicating a comparison based on weight without specifying the unit.