in comparison to last year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in comparison to last year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing differences or changes between the current year and the previous year. Example: "In comparison to last year, our sales have increased significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

In comparison to last year, it's night and day.

The Guardian - Sport

Greece has seen a significant increase in the number of arrivals in comparison to last year.

Independent

He lost 400,000 listeners in comparison to last year, a drop of 9.83 million to 9.46 million.

Independent

The price of a ticket to see the two Yankees-Mets games at Citi Field this season has plummeted 46 percent in comparison to last year, according to TiqIQ, which tracks online ticket resellers.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite the disappointment of being sent home, the American had few regrets in comparison to last year, when he was surprisingly beaten in the fourth round by Lu Yen-hsun.

Independent

But there are still hopes that fourth-quarter earnings will at least look good in comparison to last year's weak fourth quarter.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

But this spike only in comparison to 2013, the safest year for police in the modern era in 2013.

The Washington Post

"In comparison to this year, next year will be worse," said Yasuo Goto, an economist with the Mitsubishi Research Institute.

The New York Times

How foreign this now seems in comparison to this week's unrest and subsequent active supporter boycott.

The Guardian - Sport

Armani, Valentino and Givenchy all report an increase in comparison to 2010.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Loma Prieta was a baby earthquake in comparison to 1906," she said.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in comparison to last year", ensure that the context clearly defines what aspects are being compared, such as sales figures, crime rates, or personal performance.

Common error

Avoid using "in comparison to last year" without specifying the metric or area being compared. Vague comparisons can confuse readers and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in comparison to last year" serves as a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial modifier. It provides a temporal reference point for evaluating changes or differences. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is used correctly and frequently.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in comparison to last year" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier, typically used to draw a direct comparison between a present situation and the corresponding one from the previous year. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. While considered generally neutral in register, it lends itself well to news reports, business analyses, and even academic discussions, making it a versatile tool for highlighting trends and providing context. Alternatives include "compared to last year" and "year-over-year". It's crucial to clearly define the aspects being compared to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compared to last year

Shorter and more direct, suitable for most contexts.

in comparison with the previous year

More verbose, adding slight emphasis.

versus last year

More concise, often used in statistical or reporting contexts.

in relation to last year

Slightly more formal, suggesting a broader connection.

by comparison to last year

Adds a touch of formality and direct comparison.

over last year

Implies an increase or dominance compared to the previous year.

year-over-year

Common in business, emphasizing a direct annual comparison.

against last year

Suggests a contest or benchmark relative to the previous year's performance.

from the previous year

Focuses on the year before as a point of origin or reference.

assessed against last year

Highlights an evaluation process against the preceding year's data.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "in comparison to last year"?

You can use alternatives like "compared to last year", "versus last year", or "year-over-year" depending on the context.

How do I use "in comparison to last year" in a sentence?

Use "in comparison to last year" to highlight differences or similarities between the current period and the same period of the previous year. For example: "In comparison to last year, our profits have doubled."

Is "in comparison to last year" formal or informal?

"In comparison to last year" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal and can be used in various contexts, but "compared to last year" is less formal.

What is the difference between "in comparison to last year" and "compared to last year"?

The phrase "in comparison to last year" is slightly more formal and emphatic than "compared to last year", but they are largely interchangeable.