incomparability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incomparability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the quality of being incomparable or unmatched in some way. Example: "The incomparability of her talent sets her apart from her peers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even once it is agreed that good simpliciter is incomparable in this sense, many theories have been offered as to what that incomparability involves and why it exists.

SEP

He observes: "The Germans, with their nationalism, their arrogance, their fondness for their own incomparability, their hatred of being second of even place on a par, their refusal to be introduced to the world and to join its society – the Germans will bring about their own misfortune".

Independent

With its suggestion of what Trier calls "the incomparability of pain", the phrase "louder than bombs" perfectly sums up this flawed yet intriguingly off-kilter oddity, a quiet tale of battlefields at home and abroad that drew somewhat misleading comparison with Robert Redford's Ordinary People when it played in competition at Cannes last year.

The Guardian - Film

Mr. Haider said he understood that some Austrian Jews felt anxiety about his success but assured them that they had nothing to fear: "The very uniqueness and incomparability of the crime of the Holocaust means Austrian politicians must take such fears seriously.

The New York Times

How fragile is the grand state of incomparability?

The New York Times - Sports

The source of the misunderstanding concerning incomparability appears to be Feyerabend's onetime suggestion that "incommensurable theories may not possess any comparable consequences" (1962, 94).

SEP

Both Kuhn and Feyerabend have often been misread as advancing the view that incommensurability implies incomparability (cf. Hoyningen-Huene 1993, 218ff.; Oberheim 2006, 235).

SEP

In response to this misreading, Kuhn repeatedly emphasized that incommensurability does not imply incomparability (cf. Hoyningen-Huene 1993, 236ff).. Theory comparison is merely more complicated than imagined by some philosophers of science.

SEP

The extent of the misreading of incommensurability as implying incomparability is even more dramatic in Feyerabend's case.

SEP

In contrast, other philosophers argue for interpreting incomparability as vagueness (Griffin 1986, 96; Broome 1997, 2000).

SEP

The claim that it can sometimes happen that none of these is true is sometimes referred to as the claim of incomparability, in this case as applied to good simpliciter.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incomparability", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared and why a comparison is deemed impossible or inappropriate. This adds precision and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "incomparability" when a mere difference or preference exists. Reserve it for situations where genuine metrics for comparison are absent or fundamentally incompatible.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "incomparability" is as a noun. It refers to the state or quality of being incomparable. Ludwig examples show it used to describe the uniqueness of something, or the condition of things that cannot be compared.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incomparability" is a noun denoting the state of being incomparable, often used in formal and academic contexts to describe situations where direct comparison is impossible or inappropriate. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. The term appears often in science and news media, highlighting contexts where unique attributes or fundamental differences are emphasized. Related terms include "uniqueness" and "matchlessness". When using "incomparability", ensure the context clearly warrants the absence of comparable metrics to avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incomparable nature

Rephrases the original term using a slightly different structure.

unparalleled quality

Highlights the exceptional level of quality that has not been matched.

matchlessness

Emphasizes the lack of an equal or equivalent, highlighting unparalleled quality.

unequaled nature

Highlights the absence of anything that can be considered equal.

peerlessness

Stresses the absence of peers or equals, emphasizing superiority.

uniqueness

Focuses on the state of being one of a kind, rather than the impossibility of comparison.

unrivaled status

Underscores the lack of rivals or competitors, denoting a position of supremacy.

distinctiveness

Focuses on the quality of being clearly different or unique from others.

exceptionalism

Emphasizes the state of being different from the norm, often in a positive way.

transcendence

Focuses on surpassing ordinary limits.

FAQs

How is "incomparability" typically used in academic writing?

In academic contexts, "incomparability" often refers to situations where different theories, values, or methods cannot be directly compared due to fundamental differences in their underlying assumptions or frameworks. Ludwig confirms this usage through its examples.

What are some common synonyms for "incomparability"?

While "incomparability" highlights the impossibility of direct comparison, you can use synonyms like "uniqueness", "matchlessness", or "distinctiveness" to emphasize particular aspects of the concept.

Is "incomparability" always a negative attribute?

No, "incomparability" is not inherently negative. It simply describes a state where direct comparison is not meaningful. For example, the "incomparability" of artistic styles can be seen as a source of richness and diversity.

How does "incomparability" differ from "incommensurability"?

"Incomparability" generally means that two things cannot be compared at all, while "incommensurability" suggests that they cannot be measured by a common standard. However, these terms are often used interchangeably, particularly in philosophical discussions.