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Compare With, Compare To, Contrast

Select the best words for each sentence:

In comparison/contrast to our Moon's 14-day period of darkness, Mars has only a 12-hour night.
In clear weather, the apparent brightness of the comet Hale-Bopp can be compared with/to that of Sirius.
Temperature fluctuations in Antarctica are mild in comparison/contrast to those on Mars.
Measurements obtained during subsequent tests at higher velocities will be compared with/to these standards.
The noise of our most powerful wind tunnel can be compared with/to that of a tornado.
As an illustration, we can compare the thermocapillary flow we see in microgravity with/to the rising and falling mercury levels in a thermometer.
The goal of this study was to design and analyze a photovoltaic tracking array and compare it with/to a similar fixed tent array.
Fordyce [6] compares observed velocities and shapes with/to values predicted by his computer model.

For an explanation of compare with, compare to, and contrast, see Quirks of English.

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Web Curator: Caroline.A.Rist@nasa.gov (Wyle)

Last updated: 1/20/2009