to draw a parallel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to draw a parallel" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two different things to highlight similarities or connections between them. Example: "In her essay, she chose to draw a parallel between the themes of love in Shakespeare's works and those in modern literature."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is even tempting to draw a parallel with the German government's austere fiscal policy.

The Economist

Still later, Councilman Charles Barron arrived, and managed, in his brief remarks, to draw a parallel to local events.

The New York Times

"What they are trying to do is to draw a parallel between the leadership of Zimbabwe and Malawi.

The Guardian

It didn't take him long to draw a parallel between jazz soloing and the improvised vocalization of West African griots.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Croyle tried to draw a parallel between JetBlue's corporate culture of transparency and openness and yoga's vibe.

The New York Times

Organizers hope to draw a parallel between the populist, DIY punk aesthetic and the individualized vision of rarefied designers.

The New York Times - Arts

They have since reworked the Bible in a similar way to draw a parallel between its "divine violence" and the violence of the modern state.

The Guardian - Arts

In the orgy of pre-publicity for this book, much has been made of Johnson's not so subtle attempts to draw a parallel between himself and Winston Churchill.

The Guardian - Books

"He exudes wisdom," Moran said, "and we were able to draw a parallel between his specialized knowledge of rebounding and the specialized knowledge we have in our field".

The New York Times - Sports

The American campus warriors love to draw a parallel between themselves and the Czech students, but the latter would hardly recognize them as fellow rebels.

The New Yorker

Other analysts said investors were too quick to draw a parallel to Hyundai and the far more drastic financial woes that toppled the Daewoo Group last year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to draw a parallel" to clearly highlight similarities between seemingly different subjects, enhancing understanding and providing new perspectives.

Common error

Avoid forcing a parallel where the connection is weak or nonexistent. Ensure the comparison is relevant and adds meaningful insight, rather than creating a misleading or superficial association.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to draw a parallel" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase. It serves to introduce a comparison between two or more elements, highlighting similarities and relationships. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to draw a parallel" is a versatile and frequently used infinitive phrase that serves to highlight similarities and connections between different subjects or situations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. Predominantly found in news and media, and scientific contexts, the phrase helps clarify complex concepts and offer new perspectives. While it is important to ensure the comparison is relevant, "to draw a parallel" remains a valuable tool for insightful and effective communication. This is supported by numerous examples available on Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to make a comparison

Replaces "draw" with "make" implying a more general act of comparing.

to draw a comparison

Similar to the original, replacing "parallel" with "comparison" maintains almost the same meaning.

to draw an analogy

Similar to the original, but replacing "parallel" with "analogy" still captures the concept of comparison.

to find an analogy

Focuses on discovering similarities that explain something.

to identify a similarity

Emphasizes recognizing common aspects.

to equate

Implies a stronger assertion of sameness or equivalence.

to see a connection

Highlights the act of perceiving a link between two things.

to liken

A more direct and often poetic way of comparing.

to compare and contrast

Includes the aspect of noting differences alongside similarities.

to establish a correlation

Suggests finding a statistical or causal relationship.

FAQs

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

Use "to draw a parallel" to highlight similarities or connections between two different subjects. For example: "The author attempts to "to draw a parallel" between the economic policies of the past and the present."

What are some alternatives to "to draw a parallel"?

You can use alternatives like "to make a comparison", "to draw a comparison", or "to find an analogy" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "to draw a parallel" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "to draw a parallel" when you want to highlight similarities between two different subjects or situations to aid understanding or provide a new perspective.

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

While both phrases involve pointing out similarities, "to draw a parallel" often implies a more detailed and insightful comparison, whereas "to make a comparison" is a more general term.