What is the difference between Compare to and Compare with?

The word compare is used for contrasting two different things, and the word compare to means to evaluate two objects that are not alike. For example, you could say that “his voice was as deep as the ocean.” The person’s voice is not the same as the ocean, of course, and the way his voice is being described is deep. The depth of each noun is the only characteristic these two words share in this sentence. They are very different items, but there is something that makes them similar in some small way. On the other hand, compare with means to reach two identical or similar things. For example, “Her new novel was compared with the original version of the book.” You are comparing two similar items, which are the novel and the book. Compare with is used to point out similarities as well as differences, and the quality of the novel and the original text is different.

Compare to and compare with are used in sentences to show the comparisons or differences between similar things and non-similar things. The number one difference between the two is that one is used to compare two similar things, whereas the other is used to compare non-similar things. When you are comparing two things that are not identical, you can use “compare to’’. For example, it is counterintuitive to compare our findings to researches conducted in other countries. Another example is: Daniel compared children to sheep. On the other hand, “compare with” is a preposition used to compare two similar things. For example, His academic successes cannot be compared with those of john. The word “with” in this preposition shows that you are trying to compare the resemblance between two similar things. Another difference is that the preposition “compare to” is preferred in the United States, whereas British English prefers “compare with”.

When you say “compare to,” this means that you are trying to show the resemblances of the objects that you are comparing to other objects. When you say “compare with,” this means that you are showing off the differences of the different objects. It can be confusing to know the differences in how different words can be used. It is best that you understand how they can be used just to be sure of what you will get. Take note that when you just use the word compare, you essentially mean that you are pointing out similarities or differences between objects. It is only when you use “to” or “with” when it will become clearer what exactly you are trying to point out.