tenuous comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tenuous comparison" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a comparison that is weak, insubstantial, or lacking in strength or validity. Example: "The author's argument relies on a tenuous comparison between the two historical events, which fails to convince the reader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

What do you mean?" J felt obliged to stand by the tenuous comparison.

The New Yorker

One of the great managers of the modern era bows out after the finals when the German Ottmar Hitzfeld calls time on a 31-year coaching career garlanded with medals and one slightly tenuous comparison with spaghetti-sharing Disney mongrel Tramp.

The Guardian - Sport

An experimental study of this trade-off would require an ethically tenuous comparison of predation rates between control and infected animals.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Sceptics may think the comparison tenuous.

The Guardian - Opinion

TENUOUS though the comparison between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton is, the temptation for journalists on both sides of the pond to make it is irresistible.

The Economist

In addition, the relative importance of predictor variables is a tenuous concept, and comparison of the importance of predictors is not always the best approach in multiple regression.

BMC Psychiatry

Researchers speculate that tight community bonds and high diversity of age and ethnicity may act as a buffer against low wellbeing, although they caution the pilot study's small sample size makes such ward-by-ward comparisons tenuous.

The Guardian

However, the round-up has had enough of Matthew Dunn's jibber-jabber in the Daily Express, which desperately pursues a tenuous and ill-conceived comparison between England and the A-Team that starts badly and gets worse.

The Guardian - Sport

The comparison is tenuous to say the least, but Kesaev confirmed it was his chief inspiration: "When I first came to New York in 1991 and saw the Chrysler building and the Citibank one, I thought that [this] kind of skyscraper should appear in Moscow," he said at a press conference on Thursday.

The Guardian - Arts

The comparison was tenuous.

Vice

Some of the comparisons are tenuous, like Leatherface's entry in Marcus Nispel's Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, but others, including the supernatural flock of birds in Jeff Nichols' 2011 Take Shelter, are spot-on. .

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "tenuous comparison", ensure you clarify why the comparison is weak. Providing specific reasons strengthens your argument and prevents misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "tenuous comparison" as a strong or definitive connection. Acknowledge its limitations to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tenuous comparison" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "tenuous" modifies the noun "comparison". It is used to describe a comparison that is weak, unsubstantiated, or has a low degree of certainty. Ludwig confirms this grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tenuous comparison" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, though relatively rare in occurrence. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, particularly in contexts related to News & Media and Science. It serves the purpose of critically assessing the strength and validity of a comparison, suggesting skepticism or doubt. When employing this phrase, it is essential to provide context and reasons for the perceived weakness to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "weak analogy" or "flimsy parallel" can be considered to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tenuous link

Synonymous replacement using a different noun, maintaining the adjective.

weak analogy

Focuses on the logical weakness of the comparison rather than its insubstantial nature.

flimsy parallel

Highlights the lack of solid basis for the parallel being drawn.

questionable connection

Emphasizes the doubtfulness or uncertainty of the link between the compared items.

dubious association

Suggests the association is not well-supported or trustworthy.

fragile link

Highlights the vulnerability and easily broken nature of the connection.

unconvincing parallel

Highlights the lack of persuasive power in the comparison.

shaky correlation

Specifically refers to a correlation that is not statistically significant or reliable.

speculative comparison

Emphasizes that the comparison is based on conjecture rather than solid evidence.

remote connection

Suggests the connection is distant and indirect.

FAQs

How can I use "tenuous comparison" in a sentence?

You can use "tenuous comparison" to describe a relationship between two things that is weak or not well-supported. For example, "The author's argument relies on a /s/tenuous+comparison between the two historical events, which fails to convince the reader".

What are some alternatives to "tenuous comparison"?

Alternatives include "weak analogy", "flimsy parallel", or "questionable connection" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "tenuous comparison" in formal writing?

Yes, "tenuous comparison" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when critically analyzing arguments or relationships. Its use signals careful evaluation and acknowledgment of potential weaknesses in the comparison.

What does "tenuous comparison" imply about the relationship being discussed?

Using "tenuous comparison" implies that the relationship being examined is not strong, clear, or convincing. It suggests that the similarities may be superficial or based on limited evidence.