to draw a comparison

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to draw a comparison" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to highlight similarities or differences between two or more subjects. Example: "In her essay, she chose to draw a comparison between the themes of love in Shakespeare's works and those in modern literature."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Cameron's decision to draw a comparison raised eyebrows at Westminster.

The Guardian

According to the rules, submissions were meant to draw "a comparison between Quiznos and Subway with Quiznos being superior".

The New York Times

Simply put, a metaphor is a direct substitution of one concept or object for another, with the goal to draw a comparison between the two concepts or objects.

Britannica

(O.K., to draw a comparison between baseball and class loyalties is a juvenile conceit. Some of my best friends are Yankee fans. But humor me).

The New York Times

It was an obvious, and mean spirited, attempt to draw a comparison between Mr Browne's appearance and Shakespeare's libellous portrayal of the Yorkist king.

Independent

But Cameron wanted to draw a comparison with "the countries on the slide … fat, sclerotic, over-regulated, spending money on unaffordable welfare systems, huge pension bills, unreformed public services".

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

My pay has risen with inflation, but it's difficult to draw a direct comparison with the private sector.

The Guardian

Many impedance measurements are carried out to draw a proper comparison between the proposed solutions.

Measurement

To draw a fair comparison between these two arbitrarily generated layouts, we did not optimize machine allocations in either case.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Shani et al. (2015) are presumably the first authors to draw a direct comparison between regret connected to a past miss and regret related to a future miss.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

Many of the participants are too young to draw a loose comparison with the "public criticisms" and purges of the Cultural Revolution more than 40 years ago.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to draw a comparison" when you want to explicitly highlight the act of comparing two or more distinct subjects or ideas. Ensure the subjects being compared are clearly defined for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "to draw a comparison" in contexts where a precise statistical correlation or regression analysis is needed. Opt for more specific terms like "to establish a correlation" or "to perform a regression analysis" for accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to draw a comparison" functions as a verbal phrase, commonly used to introduce an analysis or discussion that highlights similarities or differences between two or more subjects. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature, providing ample examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to draw a comparison" is a versatile and grammatically correct verbal phrase widely used across various contexts to introduce comparative analyses. Ludwig AI validates its accurate usage, as exemplified in numerous instances across News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. For stylistic variation, alternatives like "to make a comparison" or "to compare" can be employed. When using this phrase, ensure the subjects are clearly defined and understood by your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to make a comparison

Uses "make" instead of "draw", a common and straightforward alternative.

to compare

A more concise and direct verb form of expressing the same action.

to make a parallel

Emphasizes the similarity or analogy between two things.

to draw a parallel

Synonymous to "to make a parallel".

to draw an analogy

Focuses on illustrating a similarity in some respects between dissimilar things.

to find a similarity

Highlights the act of discovering commonalities.

to point out similarities

Emphasizes the act of noting or indicating shared aspects.

to establish a correlation

Focuses on finding a statistical relationship or connection.

to collate

Implies gathering and comparing information from different sources.

to contrast

Focuses on highlighting the differences between two or more things.

FAQs

How can I use "to draw a comparison" in a sentence?

You can use "to draw a comparison" when you want to highlight the similarities or differences between two or more subjects. For example: "The author "chose to draw a comparison" between the economic policies of the two countries."

What can I say instead of "to draw a comparison"?

You can use alternatives like "to make a comparison", "to compare", or "to draw a parallel" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "to draw a comparison" or "to make a comparison"?

Both "to draw a comparison" and "to make a comparison" are correct and widely used. The choice often depends on personal preference or stylistic context.

What is the difference between "to draw a comparison" and "to contrast"?

"To draw a comparison" implies looking at both similarities and differences, while "to contrast" specifically focuses on highlighting the differences between two or more subjects.