cf.
3 synonyms for cf., grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Abbreviation — Compare: used in writing to point the reader towards another source, passage or example that is worth setting alongside the point just made.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
see also
cp.
How to use cf.
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cf. above
cf. note 12
but cf.
Academic and editorial. It belongs in footnotes, citations and scholarly prose, not in ordinary writing, where 'compare' or 'see' reads better.
Etymology
An abbreviation of Latin confer, the imperative of conferre 'to bring together, compare'.
Full origin of cf. →Frequently asked questions
What does cf. stand for?
It abbreviates the Latin confer, meaning 'compare'. It instructs the reader to look at another text or example alongside the present one.
What is the difference between cf. and e.g.?
Use e.g. to introduce examples of the thing you have just mentioned. Use cf. to send the reader to something different that is worth comparing, often because it contrasts with or qualifies your point.
Is cf. the same as 'see'?
Not quite. 'See' points to a source that supports or explains your statement, whereas cf. points to something offered for comparison, which may agree, differ or complicate the picture.
