Whats the difference between compared to and compared with?

Question

Prajwalkr · Accepted Answer

Hi

1.Compared to is used to indicate similarities between objects.
Eg: Life is compared to a drama in his play.
2.Compared with is used to indicate both similarities and differences.
Eg: Indian National Congress is compared with the Parliament of Britain.

Prajwal

JohnParis · Answer

Prajwal has it right (or very nearly so).

"Compared to" is for similarities. Example:
Your heart can be compared to a pump.
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate..." (Shakespeare's Sonnet 18)

The use of "compared with" should, in formal writing, be used to differentiate between things; to illustrate differences.
Example: Drug X and Drug Y were administered to two identical patient populations. Results showed that Drug X, when compared with Drug Y, had fewer adverse effects and was better tolerated.

Technically speaking, it is incorrect to use "compared with" when writing or speaking of similarities, and "compared to" when speaking of differences. However, this "rule" is fast becoming obsolete, and very few authors bother to make the distinction. Several of the top medical and other scientific journals will insist on the proper usage. Most of the others do not.

Whats the difference between compared to and compared with?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions