The difference between the verbs ‘to compare’ and ‘to contrast’ seems to have caused some heated debate. Probably more than it should. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the perenial potato debate. Which do you prefer? Sweet potatoes or old fashioned regular potatoes? Or how about yams? Surely a discussion about potatoes couldn’t cause so much argument, could it?
Let’s look at the meaning of ‘to contrast’ first because it’s easier to understand:
contrast verb
C2 [ T ]to compare two people or things in order to show thedifferences between them:
compare verb [ T ] (EXAMINE DIFFERENCES)
B1 to examine or look for the difference between two or more things:
compare verb [ T ] (CONSIDER SIMILARITIES)
to judge, suggest, or consider that something is similar or of equal quality to something else:
does not compare
compare favourably
If something compares favourably with something else, it is better than it:

