Probably very few of us would forget being set the task of writing something in high school under the theme of ‘Contrast and compare …’. The task was understood to be talking about the sameness and difference between two things.


Contrast is used for talking about differences, while compare should be used for talking about similarities. But one should be wary in the choice of prepositions.


When one thing is compared to another in the transitive sense, the intention is to suggest or state the similarity between the two. For example, 


In the popular imagination Stephen Hawking is usually compared to Albert Einstein.


It suggests Hawking is comparable to and in the same class of prominent scientists as Einstein.


In contrast,


In this seminal work the author compared the disappearance of the Inca culture with the downfall of the Roman Empire.


In this second example, the author has carried out a detailed comparison and analysis of factors and circumstances leading to the collapse of Inca culture and the Roman Empire. 


It should be noted, however, that as an intransitive verb compare should always take with (‘He plays well by the amateur’s standard, but still cannot compare with a professional golfer.’). So should the phrase in comparison.... 



Editor
www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/english/features/style-speaks/index.html