Show take my word for it 1 by frank colby COMPARE WITH airn TO 4 Q Is there some way in which I 1 may teach my english classes the difference b between e t w e e n comparing with and comparing to wed appreciate your making this usage clearer than it is in our textbook J W T A to begin with let us note that there are two ways of comparing things 1 to contrast one thing with another in order to point out a difference 2 to compare one thing to another in order to point out a similarity i here then is a simple device which uses the words with and to as the keys contrast WITH similar TO now let us compare with and compare to keeping in mind that WITH is the key to contrast or difference and TO is the key to similarity or sameness either real or fancied difference prices compared with those of 1933 are excessively high marys voice cannot be compared with jacks communism in in comparison with american democracy disregards the rights of the individual his lecture compared the works of shakespeare 6 with the writings of modern authors similarity the housing shortage may be compared to that which followed world war 1 I he compared the role i of the te united states in relieving want in europe to that of the good samaritan in popularity he said radio comedian jack benny may be compared to bob hope and F fibber mcgee and molly now this brings us logically to the question should different be followed by than or from merriam websters observes the construction with than has long literary usage to support it but is considered incorrect by many we can be sure of this however t f one thing differs from another and never differs than another different from obviously is the better usage bell syndicate features |