little comparable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little comparable" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey a sense of limited comparability, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The two products are little comparable in terms of quality and price."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The term was highly contested initially, and there was little comparable data.

The Guardian

While government attempts to limit MRSA infections in hospitals have met with some success, there has been little comparable effort in combating MRSA infections among livestock.

The Guardian

It's an index of world cinema, or perhaps the temperament of the New Directors programmers, that there's little comparable ecstasy expressed in most of the remaining selections over the first week.

The New York Times

For overwhelming emotion, love, passion and humanity there is little comparable to Wagner.

BBC

T2R seems to possess little comparable logic to that of the outside world, but there is somehow a guiding thread of "T2R coherence" among these assorted posts.

Vice

While there has been considerable recent progress in studying mitochondrial variation in eastern Asia and America at the complete genome resolution, little comparable data is available for regions such as southern Siberia – the area where most of northern Asian haplogroups, including C and D, likely diversified.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It doesn't happen like that anymore, so it's a little like a CGI effect, comparable to seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger sit up after a shotgun blast to the chest in Terminator.

The Guardian - Opinion

Both directors subsequently returned to the state-approved fold (Zhang directed the opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics), where they have produced little of comparable calibre.

The Guardian - Film

Similarly, obsessional markings, dots or little jiggles comparable to works by the Japanese obsessive-compulsive artist Yayoi Kusama can fill up a page to suffocation.

The New York Times - Arts

But for critics, its backtracking was a little slow — comparable, perhaps, to the actual rate at which Greenland's ice is melting.

The New York Times - Science

Officials from the Ministry of Finance have chimed in as well, accusing Moody's and the other big agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch of making unfair qualitative judgments and focusing too little on comparable figures.The agencies point out that, even at four or five notches below top grade, their ratings still imply a very low risk of default.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for alternatives like "not very comparable" or "hardly comparable" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness when expressing a limited degree of comparability. These alternatives are generally preferred in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "little comparable" as it sounds unnatural to native English speakers. While understandable, it's not idiomatic. Rely on more conventional alternatives for improved fluency and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little comparable" functions as an adjectival phrase, attempting to modify a noun by indicating a limited degree of similarity or equivalence. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrasing is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "little comparable" appears in various sources, including news and scientific publications, Ludwig AI indicates it's not considered grammatically correct or idiomatic in standard English. Alternatives such as ""not very comparable"" or ""hardly comparable"" are recommended for improved clarity and professionalism. While its meaning is generally understood, using these alternatives will enhance the fluency and correctness of your writing, particularly in formal contexts. The frequency of usage, while notable, doesn't outweigh the grammatical concerns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly comparable

Emphasizes the lack of comparability more strongly.

not very comparable

A more common and grammatically sound alternative.

scarcely comparable

Similar to 'hardly comparable' but slightly less frequent.

almost incomparable

Highlights the distinctiveness, suggesting minimal overlap.

bears little comparison

Focuses on the act of comparing, indicating limited results.

offers few parallels

Implies a lack of matching aspects or similarities.

shows limited resemblance

Emphasizes a superficial similarity that is weak or incomplete.

differs significantly

Highlights the differences rather than attempting a comparison.

lacks direct correlation

Suggests an absence of a clear or demonstrable relationship.

presents notable distinctions

Emphasizes the presence of clear and important differences.

FAQs

Is "little comparable" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "little comparable" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "not very comparable" or "hardly comparable".

What are some alternatives to "little comparable"?

You can use alternatives such as "not very comparable", "scarcely comparable", or "hardly comparable" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical accuracy.

How can I use "hardly comparable" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly comparable" in a sentence like this: "The data from the two studies are "hardly comparable" due to differences in methodology."

What's the difference between "little comparable" and "not very comparable"?

"Little comparable" is less common and sounds awkward. "Not very comparable" is a more natural and grammatically sound way to express that two things have limited similarities.