Compared

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MC - 14 May 2009 13:08 GMT

"compared to"

"compared with"

Synonymous?

Always?

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"All of life's riddles are answered in the movies."
- Steve Martin

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James Hogg - 14 May 2009 13:17 GMT

>"compared to"
>
>"compared with"
>
>Synonymous?

Not completely

>Always?

Not always

Some people might confuse them, and in some contexts they might
overlap, but a strict dictinction can be made:

If you are looking for similarities and differences then you are
comparing (and contrasting) X with Y.

If you are only pointing out similarities then you are comparing
(and likening) X to Y.

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James

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BMCT2010@AOL.com - 15 May 2009 20:36 GMT

> "compared to"
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> "All of life's riddles are answered in the movies."
> �- Steve Martin

Technically, you should say, "compared to."

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HVS - 15 May 2009 20:51 GMT

On 15 May 2009, wrote

>> "compared to"
>>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Technically, you should say, "compared to."

Technically, it depends on how it's being used -- the cases are
explained by Fowler and Burchfield.

They both also note that in BrE, "compared with" is the only option
when "compare" is used intransitively. (One of Burchfield's examples
is "His achievements do not compare with those of A.J. Ayer"; "...co
not compare to those of..." wouldn't be acceptable.)

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Cheers, Harvey
CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed

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BMCT2010@AOL.com - 15 May 2009 20:37 GMT

> "compared to"
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> "All of life's riddles are answered in the movies."
> �- Steve Martin

Technically, you should say, "compared to."

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009

Compared