held up against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held up against" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when talking about something being compared to or evaluated against something else. For example: "His performance in the exam was held up against his classmates, and he came out on top."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But when held up against other applicants, many do not make it.

The New York Times

After all, love was so flimsy when held up against virtues like independence and freedom.

The New York Times

The methods included in the draft proposed guidelines include serious gaps when held up against global best practices.

The Guardian - Opinion

How history remembers it: As a force for good when held up against the then concurrent new acoustic movement (or NAM).

The Guardian - Music

What appear to be great crises are slight and evanescent when held up against the steady trickling away of our subsistence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Most of the participants in this study considered the theory of evolution to have subtly different meanings when held up against religion, medicine, or different levels of biota.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Ghana, by comparison, has a long way to go even when held up against countries on its own continent.

Forbes

Naturalistic explanations, whether in biology or physics, are then cast as being comparatively local in application when held up against the broader schema of a theistic metaphysics.

SEP

But none of that seemed to matter much when held up against the new priorities.

Huffington Post

Where would they rank when held up against coral bleaching, computer viruses, dysentery, and organ harvesting?

Vice

Where would they rank when held up against coral bleaching, computer viruses, dysentery and organ harvesting?

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "held up against" when you want to emphasize a comparison where one item is being evaluated or scrutinized in relation to another. Ensure the context clearly establishes the criteria for comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "held up against" when you simply mean 'supported' or 'prevented from falling'. The phrase implies a deliberate act of comparison, not just physical support. For example, do not say 'The wall was held up against the wind' if you mean the wall withstood the wind.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held up against" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically follows a verb and precedes a noun or pronoun. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to denote a comparison or evaluation of one thing in relation to another. The phrase helps to establish a framework for judgment or assessment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held up against" is a prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate a comparison or evaluation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use in written English. It frequently appears in news articles and scientific publications, serving to provide a basis for judging or assessing the merits of one thing in relation to another. While the phrase maintains a neutral tone suitable for formal contexts, it is essential to use it accurately to convey the intended meaning of comparison rather than simple support. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize that an item is being judged or scrutinized in relation to another.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Compared with

Focuses directly on the act of comparing one thing to another.

Evaluated against

Highlights the assessment aspect when considering something in relation to a standard.

Measured against

Emphasizes the use of a specific metric or benchmark for comparison.

Contrasted with

Directly indicates a comparison to show differences.

Judged in light of

Emphasizes that an assessment or judgement is being made based on specific information.

Set against

Suggests that two things are placed in opposition for comparison.

Weighed against

Suggests that the positive and negative aspects are balanced one to another.

Assessed relative to

Highlights the assessment based on something specific.

Compared relative to

Indicates something is being compared relative to a particular factor.

Stacked up against

Implies a less formal, more direct comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "held up against" in a sentence?

Use "held up against" when you want to show that something is being compared or evaluated in relation to something else. For example: "The new policy was "held up against" the existing regulations to check for compliance".

What does "held up against" mean?

"Held up against" means compared or evaluated in relation to something else. It suggests a direct comparison to assess merit or quality. Alternatives include "compared with", "evaluated against", or "measured against".

Which is correct, "held up against" or "held against"?

"Held up against" and "held against" have different meanings. "Held up against" implies comparison, while "held against" means something is considered a disadvantage. For example: "His past mistakes were "held against" him during the interview".

When should I use "compared to" instead of "held up against"?

Use "compared to" for general similarities, while "held up against" is for detailed evaluation. "Compared to" is broader; "held up against" is more critical. For instance: "His artwork was "compared to" Van Gogh's", versus "His performance was "held up against" industry benchmarks".