It’s one of those little grammatical quirks that can trip us up, isn't it? The word 'compare.' We use it all the time, but the precise dance between 'compare with' and 'compare to' can feel a bit like navigating a maze. You might find yourself pausing, pen in hand (or fingers hovering over the keyboard), wondering which preposition fits best.
For a long time, there was a fairly neat rule, a sort of guiding principle that language experts offered. The idea was that you'd use 'compare to' when you were pointing out similarities between things that seemed quite different. Think of it as drawing a parallel, a metaphorical leap. For instance, the classic line, 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' – it's likening a person to a season, two very different entities, to highlight shared qualities like beauty and transience.
On the other hand, 'compare with' was traditionally reserved for when you were examining two things that were more alike, perhaps belonging to the same general category. Here, the focus was on spotting both the resemblances and the differences in a more direct, analytical way. So, you might 'compare the Chicago of today with that of the 1920s,' looking at how the city has evolved within its own context.
Interestingly, though, this neat division isn't always strictly followed, even in formal writing. Language, as we know, is a living, breathing thing, and usage evolves. The lines can blur, and often, both prepositions are used interchangeably, especially when the comparison is between members of the same category. The article comparing the Chicago of today with (or to) the Chicago of the 1890s is a perfect example of this flexibility.
And then there's the phrase 'compared with' or 'compared to' when used after the past participle. Here, the rule seems to relax even further. Whether you're stressing similarities or differences, or whether the items belong to the same or different classes, either 'with' or 'to' can often work. 'Compared with the rest of the world, the standard of living there is very high,' or 'Compared to the rest of the class, your grades are high' – both sound perfectly natural and convey the intended meaning.
Beyond these analytical comparisons, 'compare' also has a grammatical meaning: to give the different forms of an adjective or adverb. You'd 'compare the adjectives good and tall' to get 'better' and 'taller.' This is a more technical usage, distinct from the everyday act of drawing parallels or contrasts.
Ultimately, while the traditional rules offer a helpful framework, the most important thing is clarity. Often, the context makes the meaning obvious, and native speakers intuitively choose the preposition that feels most natural. It’s a reminder that language isn't always about rigid rules, but about effective communication, and sometimes, a little bit of flexibility goes a long way.
