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The BTGMAT Flash card says:

"Compare to" compares UNLIKE things, whereas "compare with" compares LIKE things. "Compare to" is used to stress resemblance.
CORRECT: "She compared the evening gown to the cocktail dress. "
"Compare with" can be used to show either similarity or difference (usually difference).
CORRECT: "When compared with Laura's work product, Jim's showed a world of difference."


But the first example , "She compared the evening gown to the cocktail dress", compares LIKE things, here clothes.

Please help me understand this disparity.

Thank you in advance!

Kunal

Hi there,

Please post this question in the Sentence Correction Forum and PM our instructor, Ron Purewal ("lunarpower") to let him know you would like an answer.

The SC forum is at: https://www.beatthegmat.com/sentence-correction-f9.html

Best,
Caitlin