phrase
compare and contrast
kuhm-PAIR uhnd KON-trast
Compare and contrast (phrase) means to examine two or more things side by side in order to set out both what they have in common and how they differ, usually as an academic exercise. Example: “Compare and contrast the two poems' treatment of grief.”
phrase
1
To examine two or more things side by side in order to set out both what they have in common and how they differ, usually as an academic exercise.
"Compare and contrast the two poems' treatment of grief."
"The exam asked students to compare and contrast the French and Russian revolutions."
adjective
1
Describing an essay, question or assignment built around such an examination.
"We had to write a compare-and-contrast essay on the two novels."
How to use compare and contrast
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShow how two things are alike and how they are different.
When to use it
Standard academic instruction wording, found in exam papers and coursework briefs from school to university level.
Memory tip
Hyphenate it before a noun — a compare-and-contrast question — but not when used as a verb phrase.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
compare and contrast essay
compare and contrast the two
briefly compare and contrast
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the two poems' treatment of grief.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for compare and contrast
See all rhymes for compare and contrast →Frequently asked questions
What does compare and contrast actually ask you to do?
It asks for both halves: the similarities and the differences, not a list of one followed by a list of the other with no conclusion. A strong answer also says what the pattern of similarity and difference reveals — otherwise it is a description rather than an argument.
What is the difference between compare and contrast?
To compare is to look for likeness, and to contrast is to look for difference. In practice 'compare' is often used loosely to cover both, which is exactly why the instruction spells out 'and contrast'.
How do you structure a compare-and-contrast essay?
Either block by block, covering everything about subject A then everything about subject B, or point by point, taking one feature at a time and looking at both subjects. Point by point is usually clearer for longer essays because it forces the two subjects into direct contact.
What is the meaning of compare and contrast?
"compare and contrast" (phrase) means to examine two or more things side by side in order to set out both what they have in common and how they differ, usually as an academic exercise.
