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Guptavandy Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Compared to
Should 'compared to' be changed to 'compared with' in the following sentence:
Of course, deposition of paraffin in the tubing is not serious when compared to the deposition of paraffin in the reservoir.
Of course, deposition of paraffin in the tubing is not serious when compared to the deposition of paraffin in the reservoir.
Top answer
' When 'compare' is used to mean 'to liken (one) with another', 'with' is traditionally held to be the correct preposition: 'That little bauble is not to be compared with (not to) this enormous jewel'. But 'to' is frequently used in this context and is not incorrect. (Am Heritage Dictionary)
- ' When 'compare' is used to mean 'to liken (one) with another', 'with' is traditionally held to be the correct preposition: 'That little bauble is not to be compared with (not to) this enormous jewel'.
- But 'to' is frequently used in this context and is not incorrect.
- (Am Heritage Dictionary)
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3 Answers
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Here is the 'rule':
'Compare' usually takes the preposition 'to' when it refers to the activity of describing the resemblances between unlike things: 'He compared her to a summer day.' 'Scientists sometimes compare the human brain to a computer.' It takes 'with' when it refers to the act of examining two like things in order to discern their similarities or differences: 'The police compar
'Compare' usually takes the preposition 'to' when it refers to the activity of describing the resemblances between unlike things: 'He compared her to a summer day.' 'Scientists sometimes compare the human brain to a computer.' It takes 'with' when it refers to the act of examining two like things in order to discern their similarities or differences: 'The police compar
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That means 'compared to' is correct in the sentence given, if we are following US English. Am I right?
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Would you like to see what H. W . Fowler has to say?--
'Compare', in the sense 'suggest or state a similarity', is regularly followed by 'to', not 'with'; in the sense 'examine or set forth the details of a supposed similarity or estimate its degree', it is regularly followed by 'with', not 'to'.
'He compared me to Demosthenes' means that he suggested that I was comparable
'Compare', in the sense 'suggest or state a similarity', is regularly followed by 'to', not 'with'; in the sense 'examine or set forth the details of a supposed similarity or estimate its degree', it is regularly followed by 'with', not 'to'.
'He compared me to Demosthenes' means that he suggested that I was comparable
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