relative to that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relative to that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a relationship or connection to a previously mentioned subject or context. Example: "The findings of the study are significant relative to that of previous research in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's relative to that.

Huffington Post

Relative to that, isn't retirement ever so slightly boring?

The Guardian

parts of the cell relative to that location.

Yale University

How are you doing relative to that goal?

Harvard Business Review

Local hedge funds report their performance relative to that rate.

The Economist

Germany's economy will shrink relative to that of its neighbours.

The Economist

Time would always be relative to that speed, whatever change you used to describe it.

The New York Times - Books

The company has improved the performance of its international funds relative to that of its peers.

The New York Times

That's probably unlikely because he's so liberal, relative to that society.

The Guardian - Business

When traders are bearish, the volume of put options rises relative to that of call options.

The New York Times

At the same time, researchers discovered, whites' opposition to welfare increased relative to that of minorities'.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relative to that", ensure the reference point is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, state: 'The new model's efficiency, relative to that of its predecessor, is significantly higher.'

Common error

Avoid using "relative to that" without clearly establishing what "that" refers to. This can confuse the reader and weaken your argument. Always ensure the reference is explicit and easily identifiable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relative to that" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating comparison or relationship to a previously mentioned reference point. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's commonly used to establish a link between two elements within a discourse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

30%

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relative to that" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to establish comparisons and relationships between different elements. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely applicable across academic, journalistic, and scientific domains. When employing "relative to that", ensure clarity in the reference point to prevent ambiguity. Consider using alternatives like "compared to that" or "in relation to that" for stylistic variation. The phrase functions primarily to provide context and facilitate understanding, making it a valuable tool in effective communication. The high frequency and consistent usage confirm its established place in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proportionate to that

Indicates a direct proportional relationship, suggesting a scaled comparison rather than a general relation.

proportional to that

Similar to 'proportionate to that', this implies a direct and quantifiable relationship.

in comparison to that

Focuses specifically on the act of comparing something to a reference point.

compared to that

A more concise way of expressing a comparison against a particular benchmark.

in relation to that

Emphasizes the connection or association between two things.

regarding that

Shifts the focus to the topic being discussed, indicating relevance or pertinence.

with respect to that

Suggests a more formal and considered relationship or connection.

concerning that

Highlights the subject matter being addressed, implying a direct link.

in terms of that

Indicates a specific aspect or perspective from which something is being considered.

considering that

Introduces a condition or factor that needs to be taken into account.

FAQs

How can I use "relative to that" in a sentence?

You can use "relative to that" to compare one thing to another previously mentioned. For example: "The company's profits increased, "relative to that" of last year".

What are some alternatives to using "relative to that"?

Alternatives include "compared to that", "in relation to that", or "in comparison to that", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "relatively to that" instead of "relative to that"?

No, "relatively to that" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase. The correct form is ""relative to that"".

What's the difference between "relative to that" and "related to that"?

"Relative to that" implies a comparison or proportion, while "related to that" simply means connected or associated with it.