{"id":32550,"date":"2017-08-21T18:34:31","date_gmt":"2017-08-21T18:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=32550"},"modified":"2026-03-26T10:13:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:13:20","slug":"how-to-compare-and-contrast","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/how-to-compare-and-contrast\/","title":{"rendered":"Compare and Contrast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_GskPgmjXYZQ\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_GskPgmjXYZQ\" data-source-videoID=\"GskPgmjXYZQ\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Compare and Contrast Video\" height=\"1080\" width=\"1920\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Compare and Contrast\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_GskPgmjXYZQ:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_GskPgmjXYZQ {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Compare-and-contrast-thumb.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_GskPgmjXYZQ\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_GskPgmjXYZQ\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Compare and Contrast\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_GskPgmjXYZQ\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_GskPgmjXYZQ\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_GskPgmjXYZQ\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction S36_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"S36\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"S36_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"S36\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Compare\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Compare<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Contrast\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Contrast<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Best_Practices\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Best Practices<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Example\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Example<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#What_Does_Compare_and_Contrast_Mean_PDF\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">What Does Compare and Contrast Mean? PDF<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label><input id=\"factsheet\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"factsheet\">Fact Sheet<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Hello, and welcome to this Mometrix video lesson on how to compare and contrast. What does it mean when you are given instructions to <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/compare-and-contrast\/\">compare and contrast<\/a> two or more things?<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Compare\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Compare<\/h2>\n<p>\nTo compare means to look for all of the similar qualities between two or more things. Some examples might be comparing stories you\u2019re reading in class for similar themes or ideas. You might also compare notes with a classmate to make sure you didn\u2019t miss any information.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Contrast\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Contrast<\/h2>\n<p>\nTo contrast, on the other hand, means to look for all of the differing qualities between objects. Someone might contrast original versions of movies with their remakes, or you might be asked to contrast different words. To do this, you might look at the spellings and meanings of those words. A great example of this is <em>their<\/em>, <em>there<\/em>, and <em>they\u2019re<\/em>. Each of these words sounds the same, yet they are spelled differently and have different meanings; these are great words to contrast.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Best_Practices\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Best Practices<\/h2>\n<p>\nBefore we look at our main example, we should go over best practices for how to compare and contrast objects and ideas.<\/p>\n<p>When comparing and contrasting, you can\u2019t go wrong with physically writing out a list for each item, side by side. Writing a list helps to keep information separated and to keep your ideas from getting jumbled. You could make your list by folding your paper in half and writing the qualities of one item on the left side, while writing the qualities of the other item on the right side. You could also create a chart, like you might in your math class, that neatly boxes in each topic and their qualities and separates everything into their respective categories.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Example\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example<\/h2>\n<p>\nI think it\u2019s time for an example. Together, let\u2019s compare and contrast these two objects:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shapes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"290.6\" height=\"117.3\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-86233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shapes.png 436w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shapes-300x121.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 436px) 100vw, 436px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Compare-and-Contrast-Shapes.webp\" alt=\"Comparison of shapes: left side lists similarities like being fundamental and colorful; right side contrasts a green triangle with three sides and a purple circle with no sides.\" width=\"478.6\" height=\"232.8\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-244879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Compare-and-Contrast-Shapes.webp 2393w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Compare-and-Contrast-Shapes-300x146.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Compare-and-Contrast-Shapes-1024x498.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Compare-and-Contrast-Shapes-768x374.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Compare-and-Contrast-Shapes-1536x747.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Compare-and-Contrast-Shapes-2048x996.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2393px) 100vw, 2393px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now, this is a simple example. However, there are more challenging ways in which you might be asked to compare and contrast something. For example, in your English class, you\u2019ll be asked to <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/comparison-of-two-stories\/\">compare and contrast key themes or ideas<\/a> expressed in the literature you\u2019re reading. You might read works by multiple authors and then discuss how they are similar and\/or different and how that might\u2019ve lead to the development of the other authors\u2019 works.<\/p>\n<p>You might also be asked to compare and contrast words if the text has been translated from another language. Doing this can give a fuller meaning to the ideas trying to be conveyed in the text.<\/p>\n<p>You might also be asked to compare and contrast in your math classes when looking at numbers or charts.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line is, you can and will use comparing and contrasting in multiple ways throughout your life!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"factsheet-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\"><span id=\"What_Does_Compare_and_Contrast_Mean_PDF\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What Does Compare and Contrast Mean? PDF<\/h2>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1193\" height=\"1574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/image_2022-06-01_072151721.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"A fact sheet titled &quot;Compare and Contrast&quot; explains how to compare and contrast using examples of shapes. It includes side-by-side comparisons with a green-filled triangle and a purple-filled circle.\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/image_2022-06-01_072151721.png 1193w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/image_2022-06-01_072151721-227x300.png 227w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/image_2022-06-01_072151721-776x1024.png 776w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/image_2022-06-01_072151721-768x1013.png 768w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/image_2022-06-01_072151721-1164x1536.png 1164w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1193px) 100vw, 1193px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sub_categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Compare-and-Contrast-Fact-Sheet.pdf\"><span id=\"Your_Compare_and_Contrast_PDF_Download\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Your Compare and Contrast PDF Download<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/writing\/\">Return to Writing Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Writing Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":211909,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-32550","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","7":"page_category-writing-videos","8":"page_type-video","9":"content_type-fact-sheet","10":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32550"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":281618,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32550\/revisions\/281618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}