1

I have recently come across a strange phrase and wanted to know if it might be correct.

A comparison between X with Y

The with in this sentence feels very strange.

thanks for helping me out.

The full sentence:

For example, a topic could be X, or Y, or a comparison between X with Y, or the causal relation between X and Y, etc.

It literally says X and Y. The full sentence I gave, is exactly what is written in the book.

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  • It should be 'between X and Y'
    – CinCout
    Oct 11, 2018 at 8:28
  • @CinCout I would have said so too. But it was printed in a proper book, which was enough to make me doubt.
    – oldmansaur
    Oct 11, 2018 at 8:34
  • "Proper books" can have mistakes in them. Oct 11, 2018 at 10:34
  • it's an error. x and y is correct. Oct 11, 2018 at 11:35

1 Answer 1

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Possibly the author (or editor) of the book was confused between these usages:

  1. Comparison of X to Y

  2. Comparison of X with Y

  3. Comparison between X and Y

1 is preferred in American English; 1 and 2 are equally common in British English; 3 is standard in both.

Compare with or to

Comparison

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  • The first between is a mistake and should be 'of'. The second between is OK.
    – JeremyC
    Oct 11, 2018 at 21:52

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