it was being compared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was being compared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where something is being evaluated or analyzed in relation to another thing, typically in a passive construction. Example: "In the study, it was being compared to other methods to determine its effectiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I was saddened when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to painful images reminiscent of blackface.

The Guardian - Music

A placebo operation in the 1950s was found to be as effective for the treatment of angina as the real operation it was being compared with.

The Guardian

"To defend the firing of a man who used a word that somebody misunderstood is to defend ignorance," Mr. Dyer wrote, noting that niggardly had an origin different from that of the word it was being compared with.

The New York Times

Chatbots are also extraordinarily tenacious: such a machine has nothing better to do and it never gets bored.No computer has yet fooled all those who judge the Loebner prize into thinking that it was human and that the person it was being compared with was a computer.

The Economist

At the end of 1993 the pension fund fired FCA, citing a poor investment return — just over half that of the market benchmark against which it was being compared.

Forbes

Merck argued that what was being seen were not the heart-damaging effects of Vioxx, but the heart-protective effects of the drug it was being compared to, Naproxen.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"It's being compared to The Stand, which was his masterpiece.

The Guardian - Books

Neither the attacking force nor the sea to which it is being compared is mentioned directly in this figure.

University of California, Berkeley

It is being compared in advance to the speech that John F. Kennedy gave on Catholicism before a group of ministers in Houston during the 1960 campaign.

The New Yorker

Yet the evidence may be systematically biased to exacerbate the upward trend because the effective sample for the American Community Survey (ACS) is much smaller than it was for the 2000 census to which it is being compared.

Stanford University

It will be slightly taller than Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty, just short of the Great Pyramid of Giza and considerably shorter than the structure to which it is being compared – the Eiffel Tower.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Specify the standard or point of reference against which something is being evaluated to provide clarity to your audience.

Common error

Avoid replacing "it was being compared" with an active voice construction (e.g., "someone was comparing it") when the actor is unknown or unimportant. The passive voice is often more appropriate in scientific or formal writing where the object of the comparison is the focus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was being compared" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something is undergoing a process of comparison. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was being compared" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to describe an ongoing evaluation or assessment. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase appears most frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. To enhance clarity, specify the reference point of the comparison. While the phrase is generally appropriate, avoid overuse of the passive voice where an active construction would be more direct and engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was being contrasted

Focuses on highlighting differences rather than general comparison.

it was being evaluated against

Emphasizes a formal assessment process.

it was being benchmarked

Implies comparison against a standard or point of reference.

a comparison was made

More concise and direct, highlighting the existence of a comparison without specifying the ongoing nature.

they were drawing parallels

Highlights the act of finding similarities instead of a direct comparison.

similarities were being drawn

Focuses on the act of identifying commonalities.

it was juxtaposed with

Stresses the act of placing two things side-by-side for comparison.

it was likened to

Suggests a comparison to something familiar to aid understanding.

it was analogized to

Implies a more complex or abstract comparison.

it was under consideration alongside

Focuses on the act of considering something relative to something else, often in the context of decision-making.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it was being compared" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it was being evaluated against" or "it was being benchmarked". These options suggest a structured assessment.

What is the difference between "it was being compared" and "it was compared"?

"It was being compared" implies an ongoing process of comparison, while "it was compared" suggests a completed action. For example, "The new drug was being compared to existing treatments over several months" versus "The study showed that the new drug was compared to a placebo".

When is it appropriate to use "it was being compared" in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, "it was being compared" is suitable when describing an experiment or study where continuous monitoring and evaluation are happening. This emphasizes that the comparison is an active and evolving process.

Are there synonyms for "it was being compared" that emphasize differences rather than similarities?

Yes, you can use "it was being contrasted" to highlight the differences between two subjects. This emphasizes the dissimilar aspects rather than the overall comparison.